Episode 1 of 2
Earlier Composition Context
- When
- 1719
- Where
- Köthen and Berlin
The concertos were likely composed before 1721, with some linked to Bach's activities in Köthen and Berlin.
Concerto No. 5 is believed to have been written in 1719 to showcase a new harpsichord by Michael Mietke. Bach purchased this instrument in Berlin and brought it back to the Köthen court. The viola da gamba was also used, possibly due to Prince Leopold's interest in the instrument.
Sources
- Brandenburg Concertos Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-24
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.