Instrument: Violin
Hometown: Woodbury, Minn.
Piece: J. S. Bach — Violin Partita No.2 in D minor, BWV 1004, V. Chaconne
Why did you choose this piece?
I chose Chaconne because the polyphonic structure and intricate ornaments balance so well. The multiple voices feel like a dialogue and they harmonize in a very unique way. Bach wrote Chaconne after the passing of his wife, and playing the piece symbolizes a melancholy tone. I think the piece represents the stages of grief that Bach went through personally, with harsh chords in the start mirroring his shock to a soft major section in the middle, which could represent his acceptance of her passing, and a return to the solemn minor key and chord that began the piece. Every time I play Chaconne, there are different layers of meaning that surface. In a baroque interpretation, I chose to lower all the strings by a half step, which further trajects the dissonant harmonies employed by Bach.
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