As Court Music Director in Cöthen, Johann Sebastian Bach devoted himself primarily to instrumental music. Among the works written there were his Sonatas for violin and obbligato harpsichord BWV 1014–1019, which have come down to us as a complete cycle.

The violinist and harpsichordist/pianist are equally challenged here, and the sonatas – together with Bach’s flute and viola da gamba sonatas – lay the foundation for the duo sonata in the modern sense, as the usual accompanying function of the...