Bach’s move to Leipzig in 1723 appears to have stimulated his interest in composing chamber music for the viola da gamba and the flute, having previously concentrated on sets of music for violin and cello. The miscellaneous surviving manuscript sources for gamba and flute hint at further such collections of six, but only three obligato sonatas for viola da gamba and two for flute have come down to us. These are here arranged for two keyboards (harpsichords, clavichords, organs or pianos), together with the virtuoso Trio Sonata from the Musical Offering, originally for flute, violin and continuo.

Francis Knights is a Fellow of Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge, Chairman of the National Early Music Association and Editor of Harpsichord & Fortepiano. His research interests include manuscript studies, performance practice, music analysis and organology. He has recently completed major recital series of all Bach’s clavier works and the Tudor keyboard repertoire, and his previous editions of keyboard music for Lyrebird Music include the complete duos by the Bach family (LBMP-023), The Art of Fugue (LBMP-028) and arrangements of eight organ Preludes & Fugues by Bach (LBMP-034).

www.francisknights.co.uk