Trio Sonatas Transformed

Bach’s Trio Sonatas composed for organ are celebrated for their chamber‑like interplay. They stand among his most poised and exquisitely crafted works. In this program, four of these sonatas are heard variously in transcriptions for oboe, violin, baroque cello or viola da gamba, and harpsichord, performed by leading musicians of the Washington Bach Consort. Rendered in this special instrumental palette, the music’s contrapuntal finesse and melodic transparency gain new expressive dimensions: solo lines converse with fresh immediacy, and textures are vibrant with color impossible on a single instrument. The result is chamber music of remarkable elegance and balance—buoyant, articulate, and illuminated by Bach’s unmistakable inventiveness.