January 30 , 2026, in the Parish Hall of Saint Mary Magdalen Church, 2005 Berrryman, Berkeley:

Elizabeth Blumenstock, violin, with Corey Jamason, harpsichord:

Bach Sonatas for violin and harpsichord, Part II

Barefoot is delighted to be able to welcome back Bay Area icon Elizabeth Blumenstock and harpsichord guru Corey Jamason, who will play the great sonatas by J. S. Bach for violin and harpsichord that they didn’t play last season, as well as some solo music by Bach for violin and for harpsichord. This will be locavore chamber music at its finest, in the lovely acoustic of St. Mary Magdalen Parish Hall. 

 Bach was both a virtuoso harpsichordist, and a violin player of some skill, although the demands of the violin parts of these sonatas suggest that the pieces were written with another, perhaps more accomplished player in mind, as is the case with the partitas for solo violin. The sonatas were likely written in the 1720s, and Bach constantly revised them, as we can see from surviving primary sources.  As with so many of Bach’s instrumental sonatas, they are trios: the right hand of the harpsichord and the violin form the two treble instruments involved in a dialogue, while the bass, in a more static and supportive role, is played by the left hand of the keyboard.

These works are integral to the baroque instrumental repertoire, fabulous examples of Bach’s endless creativity and playfulness. They cannot be played, or heard, too often.

6.30 pm, Friday, January 30, 2026in the Parish Hall of Saint Mary Magdalen Church, 2005 Berryman, Berkeley.

Please enter the Hall from the parking lot (go down the entry ramp 50 yards East of the Church on Berryman), and then down a flight of stairs to the West of the parking area.

Admission $25 (no one turned away for lack of funds).
You can reserve a seat in advance by email to info@barefootchamberconcerts.com, and pay at the door when you come.