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J.S. Bach
Brandenburg Concerto no. 3 BWV 1048
arranged for 2 violins, 2 violas and 2 violoncellos
by Mauk de Wildt (2016)
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- Score -

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Introduction to this arrangement

The original score of this concerto, written for 3 violins, 3 violas, 3 violoncellos and continuo (including a
violone) shows many empty bars in the different parts as well as many unisono passages. That stimulated me
to investigate the possibility of a reduction of the 3+3+3+1 part scoring to a 2+2+2 part string sextet
arrangement without changing the work's character.
The original scoring asks for an ad hoc ensemble: no other works can be found in the IMSLP library for the same
instrumental combination. A string sextet ensemble is more common, for which there is already a rich
repertoire (more than 40 original works in the IMSLP library).
After first reassigning the melodic and polyphonic lines to the six parts and subsequently reassigning the
accompaniment notes it proved that only a limited number of notes were left over and had to be omitted.
Fortunately all these notes were typical fill-in notes, without melodic, polyphonic or rhythmical importance and
they could also be found in other parts, with the exemption of 2 or 3 places.
Double stopping is not common in Bachs orchestra and concerto parts, and so in this arrangement it is only
used in bars 108 to 113 in the 1st violin and 2st viola part (comparable with passages in Bachs Concerto for 2
violins, part 3).
The original dynamic markings (indicating only piano and forte), which are already shown in the autograph,
are not as usual meant to indicate a piano or forte character of an episode, but to control the balance between
melodic voices and unisono ripieno (accompanying) voices. So in this concerto in all passages with dynamic
markings some parts have to play forte and other parts at the same time piano. This is in my opinion what
musicians with good ears normally do automatically.
In this arrangement, however, the dynamic balance is significantly changed, e.g. because hardly any unisono
passages are left. That means that Bachs original dynamic markings are of less importance or in some cases
even unnecessary , and I choose to ignore these markings, leaving the balancing to the players.
What is lost in the arrangement is mainly visually: lost is the beautiful symmetry of the original score, where
Bach treats the violins, violas and violoncellos as separate groups.

Mauk de Wildt, 2016

Creative Commons license Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 (this arrangement may be freely copied, performed
or adapted, provided that the name of the arranger is mentioned )

J.S. Bach Brandenburg Concerto no. 3 BWV 1048

arranged for 2 violins, 2 violas and 2 violoncellos by Mauk de Wildt (2016)

Violino

Violino

II

Viola

Viola

II

Violoncello I

Violoncello II

4
4

4
4

4





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12

15

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18

21

24

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10

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61

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70

73

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82

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102

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111

113

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133

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Adagio

136

Allegro

8
12

Violino

Violino

II

12
8

12
8

II

12
8

Violoncello I

12
8

Violoncello II

12
8

Viola

Viola

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10

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