1. Adagio (Bach Solo Violin Sonata No.

1, G minor BWV 1001)

closely related keys: Gm, F, Eb, Dm, Cm, Bb
Prelude - descending bass line supporting improvised chords above.
Think of this first movement as a Prelude preceeding the 2nd mvt Fugue.
This is true for all three Bach Solo Violin Sonatas.
J. S. Bach
reduction by Michael McLean

Section 1 m.1-8 (G minor - D minor)

Solo Violin

Violin A
upper treble

jj

b c b
#

b
#
&

#
b
c
b
&
#

Violin C
Bass line

& b c

Violin B
lower treble

& b

Violin A, B, C show the reduction of the Adagio. The result is very similar
to the Trio Sonata texture, two treble voices supported by a bass line.

3
S. Vln.

b b j
&
J
J
b

Vln. a

&b

Vln. b

Vln. c

& b

j
#
#

#
bJ
n
J
J
R

b
J

J
b

# J

& b

Cadence - D minor
S. Vln.

Vln. a

Vln. b

Vln. c

6
b b# n



& J

J
J
b

b
&
b
& b #
& b

j
)

# n

J
#

Adagio, Bach Solo Violin Sonata No. 1, G minor BWV 1001

2

Section 2 "Bridge"m.9-13 (v/d - iv/c)

9
S. Vln.

b
&

Vln. a

&b

Vln. b

&b

Vln. c

b
&

nb b #
#

R
b
#
#

j
b # nn b b
J
J

# n

Deceptive Cadence
Instead of cadencing in E flat, Bach adds a dramatic
touch by going to a deceptive, fully dimished
chord, setting up the eventual cadence to C minor.

b
b n b b
b n

& b

b
J
b J
b J
b


b
b

b
n

&

11

S. Vln.

Vln. a

Vln. b

Vln. c

&b

& b

Eb: I

V /IV

b 6
ii

Cadence - C minor

S. Vln.

13 U
b b
& b

n
b

n
R
heightened expression with 2 octave expansion

bU

Vln. a

&b

U
& b b

Vln. b

n o
Cm: vii 7

b
i

U
Vln. c

& b
n
o
vii 7 /V

Adagio, Bach Solo Violin Sonata No. 1, G minor BWV 1001

3

Section 3, "Return" in
Subdominant m.14-22 (iv/c - i/g)
compare the opening A section to its return in the subdominant

14

& b

#
#
J

jj
b
J

S. Vln.

b b j
b

J
J

b
& b b b n n n
n

Although structurally the same as Section 1, Section 3 is the more

emotionally charged version - by way of rhythmic
intensity, an augmented range of 2 octaves, and texturally, with
more quaudruple stops, creating a greater sense of drama.

Vln. a

&b

Vln. b

&b
& b
i

Vln. c

16 b
&

j
b #
J
J

# #
bJ

J
R

n
J

S. Vln.

Vln. a

j
b

b
n

&

bb
J
J
J
b
n
&b

Vln. b

&b

Vln. c

& b

j
b

n b

n J
J
J
J
b
n

j
n

Adagio, Bach Solo Violin Sonata No. 1, G minor BWV 1001

4

18 b

& #
J

b #
J

S. Vln.

Vln. a

Vln. b

Vln. c

b
b n#
b

& #

J
b
b
b

&b

b #n
&
& b #
20 b

#
J

&

S. Vln.

&b
Vln. a

&b

Vln. b

&b

Vln. c

b n
b

b
b

& b

21 b
&

n
J

Final Cadence - G minor

S. Vln.

Vln. a

#
b
&
#
&b

Vln. b

& b n

Vln. c

& b

# J

b w

w
w
w

w
w