LDV115-6

21 MICHIAKI UENO In December 1717, when Bach took up his post at the court of Cöthen (the capital of the principality of Anhalt-Cöthen until 1847), he might almost be said to have embarked on a ‘new musical life’. Sacred music took a back seat, since the Calvinist Reformed Church did not tolerate any music at all during services. The period in Cöthen was one of the happiest andmost productive in Bach’s life, for he composed more or less whatever he liked. Among the results were the Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin, the Suites for solo cello, orchestral works including the Brandenburg Concertos and solo concertos for violin or keyboard, and Book One of The Well-tempered Clavier . He also took full advantage of recent technical improvements in a number of instruments while delving deeper into musical forms. His style was enriched by sources of folk origin and most especially by dances, which are an essential component of his instrumental oeuvre.