This work has been adapted from the organ trio sonata no. 4, originally in E minor, BWV 528. I have transposed it into G minor to sit a little more comfortably in the flute range while preserving most of Bach’s original voicing.
The trio sonata was one of the most popular chamber music configurations of the baroque period. J.S. Bach and his family circle frequently produced reduced versions of trio sonatas for themselves to play – a trio for two upper instruments and continuo would be performed with one upper instrument with the keyboard becoming an “obligato” accompaniment, taking the other upper part with the right hand and the left taking the bass line as it usually would. It is quite conceivable that this work came about in such a fashion, though no other version of it is known. I believe that the present version is consistent with the type of adaption that the Bach family circle might have produced for themselves to enjoy.
