Solo Violin Sonata, Chaconne by J.S.Bach

Details

Ye-jin Han full profile / Solo Violin / 1 musician

Full program notes

Ponce-Heifetz "Estrellita" - Mexican Serenade
J.S.Bach Sonata in G minor for Solo Violin
J.Massenet/ Meditation from Thais
J.S.Bach Partita No.2 in D minor, "Ciaccona" for Solo Violin

Historical context

Program Description for Groupmuse:

This evening’s program is a heartfelt journey across time, emotion, and cultural landscapes—woven together by the expressive voice of the solo violin.

We begin with Estrellita by Mexican composer Manuel Ponce, arranged by Jascha Heifetz. This serenade, whose name means “Little Star,” glows with tender longing. It’s a love song from a distance—both romantic and nostalgic—and I chose it to open the evening with warmth and gentle light.

Next, we turn inward with the Sonata in G minor for Solo Violin by J.S. Bach. Written in the early 1700s, this music invites us into a sacred space—structured, clear, and deeply human. Its intricate lines echo like a meditation, guiding us into stillness and contemplation.

We then offer a moment of sheer lyricism with Méditation from Thaïs by Jules Massenet. Originally an operatic interlude, this piece captures the soul’s quiet transformation—its tenderness speaks to the part of us that yearns for beauty and solace.

Finally, we arrive at the heart of the evening: Bach’s Ciaccona from the Partita No. 2 in D minor. This monumental work for solo violin is often described as a lifetime in 15 minutes. It was written after the death of Bach’s first wife, and though he never said it in words, the music speaks of grief, remembrance, resilience, and transcendence. Playing it always reminds me of the power of music to hold what words cannot.

Through these pieces, I invite the audience to reflect, feel, and simply be—to remember that music, like community, connects us across centuries and cultures. These works come from different corners of the world—Mexico, France, Germany—but they all speak to the universal language of the heart.

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