The idea to make arrangements of Bach’s wonderful music for solo violin came when I was practising the C major Fugue, and thought how much easier it would be with 4 violas!  The biggest new element in the arrangements is that the musical line, instead of being played by one person, is passed around between the four violas in a conversational way that allows for interaction between the different “voices”. I was inspired by Bach’s writing for multiple strings in works such as the third Brandenburg Concerto. I like to think that he might not have disapproved of my audacity in making these arrangements especially since we know from his son Carl Philip Emmanuel that he loved playing the viola, and indeed made so many arrangements himself of his own music.

One of the miracles in Bach’s writing for the solo violin is the way he manages to create the illusion of harmonies which the violin on its own can’t actually play. To some extent, what I have added are the harmonies and other parts which were implied but not written. I cannot hope to have mastered Bach’s style, but I have tried to imitate it to the best of my ability. Needless to say, this is no attempt to improve on the originals, which are uniquely brilliant and self-sufficient. It is simply a different way of presenting the music, which is fun for the players and hopefully enjoyable to listen to as well, thanks to the beautiful warm sonority of 4 violas playing together!