J. S. Bach: Sonatas & Partitas, BWV 1001 – 1006

Violinist Mark Fewer presents J.S. Bach: Violin Sonatas and Partitas, BWV 1001–1006, a recording that brings together one of the cornerstones of the solo violin repertoire with six violins crafted by leading Canadian luthiers. Each work is performed on a different instrument, made by David Prentice, John Newton, Mark Schnurr, Itzel Avila, Isabelle Wilbaux, and Sibylle Ruppert, highlighting both the individuality of each violin and the interpretive possibilities within Bach’s music. 

The project grew out of Fewer’s long-standing connection to the SweetWater Music Festival, which he founded with Jean and Keith Medley on the shores of Georgian Bay. Through the festival, leading string players came into contact with some of Canada’s finest violin makers, helping foster what has become known as “Cremona North,” a thriving community of luthiers whose instruments are heard on stages around the world. This recording draws a parallel between Bach’s music and the craft of violin making, showing how the same repertoire can yield different interpretations as each instrument reveals its own distinct sound. Violin Sonatas and Partitas, BWV 1001–1006 is both a tribute to Bach’s enduring solo violin works and a celebration of the makers whose instruments continue to give performers new ways to express their musical voices.