The second gamba sonata is the most outgoing of the three. The opening Adagio is brief, almost a prelude, and gives way to an Allegro of dancing energy over a walking keyboard bass. The Andante in B minor stands out for its singing, lyrical cello line; the closing Allegro is a lively gigue-like finale. As with BWV 1027, the keyboard part is fully composed rather than figured, making the sonata a genuine duo.
Sonata for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord No. 2 in D major BWV 1028
celloharpsichordbaroquesonata~16 minadvanced
Difficulty
Technical
Intermediate
Outgoing and song-like; dance rhythms rather than athletic demands.
Stamina
Moderate
Sixteen minutes, four movements.
Interpretive
Advanced
Lyrical B-minor Andante; outer movements dance without slackening.
Ensemble
Demanding
Walking-bass keyboard under a singing cello line; tempo alignment is everything.
Performer's notes
Structural landmarks
I. Adagio
II. Allegro
III. Andante
IV. Allegro
Interpretive schools
Editions
Bärenreiter
Neue Bach-Ausgabe critical edition with full source-critical report.
Henle Verlag
Urtext edition with separate cello and harpsichord parts. Part of Henle's complete gamba sonatas volume.
Recordings
Pedagogical arc
Prepare with
Natural next
External references