The Unaccompanied Violin Works of F.W. Rust

Johann Sebastian Bach’s works for unaccompanied violin, collectively titled “Sei Solo,” are cornerstones of present-day classical violin performance and pedagogy. However, fundamental questions remain about how violinists performed these works during Bach’s own time. In tandem with dissertation research at the University of Toronto, Arlan Vriens’ Mitacs Globalink Research Award internship project will address this knowledge gap by studying the unaccompanied violin sonatas of Friedrich Wilhelm Rust (1739–1796), a direct student of the Bach family.

As a Visiting Research Student at the University of Cambridge, Vriens will consult manuscripts and estate documents in the UK and Europe and collaborate with historically-informed performance experts in Cambridge and London. Through these activities, he will resolve questions about Rust’s violin performance practices, furthering our understanding of how the violin music of Bach and Rust sounded in the 18th century. In turn, this process will offer new tools for present-day violinists to create fresh, innovative performances of well-known repertoire.

Faculty Supervisor:

Robin Elliott

Student:

Partner:

University of Cambridge

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Education

University:

University of Toronto

Program: