JS Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No 3

As he himself confesses, Johann Sebastian Bach was not quite diligent in complying with the request of the Margrave of Brandenburg, who had asked him a couple of years ago for some pieces to perform with his court's musicians.

Perhaps this explains the language overloaded with humility with which on March 24, 1721, Johann Sebastian Bach wrote – in French, according to custom – the dedication of the Six Concertos for several instruments addressed to Monsignor Christian Ludwig, Margrave of Brandenburg, transcribed below:

"Since I had a few years ago, the good luck of being heard by Your Royal Highness, by virtue of his command, & that I observed then, that He took some pleasure in the small talents that Heaven gave me for Music, & that in taking leave of Your Royal Highness, He wished to make me the honor of ordering to send Him some pieces of my Composition: I therefore according to his very gracious orders, took the liberty of giving my very-humble respects to Your Royal Highness, by the present Concertos, which I have arranged for several Instruments; praying Him very-humbly to not want to judge their imperfection, according to the severity of fine and delicate taste, that everyone knows that He has for musical pieces …
I very humbly beg Your Royal Highness, to have the goodness to maintain his kind favour toward me, and to be persuaded that I have nothing more at heart than to be able to be employed in some opportunities more worthy of Him and of his service … "

The words, highly condescending, are those that match, of course, the manners of a servant addressing a personality of the category of the "Margrave", the title in Spanish for Markgraf, equivalent to marquis.

It would be natural to suppose that the Margrave did receive the concertos. What is not in doubt is that he did not acknowledge receipt. Furthermore, the concertos were never performed in his court. A serious disregard for the maestro, arguably, but the fact is that the Baroque's master did not burn his eyelashes to make his gift to the Margrave either: from those who he already had written he chose six, made some changes and sent them accompanied of the thoughtful dedication heading this article.

Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major (BWV 1048)
The six concerts that make up the collection – which we now know as the Brandenburg Concertos – are written for different instruments. The third of them, the most popular of the entire series (as well as the shortest: less than 9 min), is composed for solo violin accompanied by strings and basso continuo. Written in three movements, the second, Adagio, consists of a single measure with only two chords, apparently intended for solo improvisation.

Movements:
0:00  Allegro
5:34  Adagio
5:45  Allegro

The rendition is by the Early Music ensemble Voices of Music, performed on original instruments.