Allegory and Symbolism in “Sei Solo” — Focusing on musical message by J.S. Bach, from Six Solo Violin Sonatas and Partitas BWV1001-1006

Eriko Nagayama

About this exposition

This research explores the use of allegory and symbolism in Johann Sebastian Bach’s Six Solo Violin Sonatas and Partitas (BWV 1001-1006). The central inquiry is how Bach incorporated European allegorical and symbolic ideas into his music. Key aspects of this investigation include understanding how Bach applied symbolism through ornamentation, tonality, and numerical values. The study raises several questions: What were the common allegorical ideas in Europe at the time? Is there a consecutive story behind the Sei Solo? How do symbols relate to the piece? Additionally, it will examine how allegories (which is more common in literature and art) manifest in his Sei Solo through musical gestures like messa di voce, harmony hierarchies, and inflections. This research is dedicated to all the curious minds exploring allegory and symbolism in music—from those newly discovering J.S. Bach to devoted Bach lovers, students, and professionals.

type	research exposition
keywords	18th century, analysis, Bach, Partitas, symbolism, allegory
date	01/11/2024
published	07/07/2025
last modified	07/07/2025
status	published
copyright	Eriko Nagayama
license	CC BY-NC-ND
url	https://www.researchcatalogue.net/view/2321964/3140773
doi	https://doi.org/10.22501/koncon.2321964
published in	KC Research Portal
portal issue	1. Master Research Projects

name	IMG_0889
copyright	Public domain
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture, picture

name	Biber memo
copyright	E. Nagayama
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Annunciazione di Recanati, Lorenzo Lotto, c.1534, Museo civico Villa Colloredo Mels, Recanati
copyright	Museo
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	Vanitas Still Life with Musical Instruments and Flowers in a Silver Tripod Vase, 1620 - 1699, Benthall hall, England (National Trust)
copyright	National Trust
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	Self-Portrait with a Vanitas Still-life, Edwaert Colyer or Collier, 1680s
copyright	Edwaert Colyer
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	Spring, Sandro Botticelli, c.1480, The Uffizi, Florence
copyright	The Uffizi
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	Still Life with a Golden Goblet, Pieter de Ring, 1640-1660, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, Netherlands
copyright	Rijksmuseum
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	Ein Glas mit Blumen und einem Orangenzweig, Abraham Mignon, c.1660/70, Gemäldegalarie Alte Meister, Dresden, Germany
copyright	Gemäldegalarie Alte Meister
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	Matilde Battistini, Symbols and Allegories in Art, Translated by Stephen Sartarelli P.312
copyright	M. Battistini
license	Public domain
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name	Matilde Battistini, Symbols and Allegories in Art, Translated by Stephen Sartarelli p.318
copyright	M. Battistini
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	IMG_0903
copyright	Bach digital.de
license	Public domain
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name	palindromic relationship Sei Solo
copyright	Me
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	1001 beginning
copyright	Eriko
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	1002 beginning
copyright	Eriko
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	1003 beginning
copyright	Eriko
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	1004 beginning
copyright	Eriko
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	1005 beginning
copyright	Eriko
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	1006 beginning
copyright	Eriko
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	Gematria p.17
copyright	Dukay & Abraham
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	Gematria, Thoene
copyright	Helga Thoene
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	Fibonacci
copyright	David Ramsey
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	Number symbolism list 1
copyright	D. Ramsey
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	IMG_0961
copyright	D. Ramsey
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	BWV 1001 proportion
copyright	R. Tatlow
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	BWV 1002 proportion
copyright	R. Tatlow
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	BWV 1006 proportion
copyright	R. Tatlow
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	BWV 1001&1002 proportion
copyright	R. Tatlow
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	Proportion across Sei Solo
copyright	R. Tatlow
license	Public domain
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name	900 bars proportion
copyright	R. Tatlow
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	Proportion across Six Sonatas
copyright	R. Tatlow
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	The four levels of proportion found in Sei Solo
copyright	R. Tatlow
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Bwv1001 adagio
copyright	Eriko
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	BWV 1001 Sciliana
copyright	Eriko
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	BWV1002
copyright	Eriko
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	BWV 1003
copyright	Eriko
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	BWV1002 Andante
copyright	Eriko
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	BWV1004
copyright	Eriko
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	BWV1005
copyright	Eriko
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	BWV 1005 Largo
copyright	Eriko
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	BWV1006
copyright	Eriko
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Mattheson BWV 1003
copyright	K.Korpanty
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Bartolus‘ musical character with seven planet
copyright	Yoh Murakami
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	Vanitas still life violin
copyright	Edwaert Colyer
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	Orpheus (AD2)
copyright	Wikipedia
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Pensive girl
copyright	M. Battistini
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	Beginning Adagio
copyright	Bach Archive
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	Serpent
copyright	M. Battistini
license	Public domain
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name	Corelli Op.5 with ornament
copyright	Eriko Nagayama
license	Public domain
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name	Adagio figured base abstract with memo
copyright	D.Ledbetter, E. Nagayama
license	Public domain
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name	Orfeo ed Eurydice first print
copyright	OlycomSpa
license	CC BY-NC
usages	picture

name	Adagio with memo
copyright	E. Nagayama
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Groppo
copyright	D. Bartel
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	1001 Gematria beginning
copyright	E. Nagayama
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	1001 ending Adagio gematria
copyright	E. Nagayama
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	BWV1001 Fanfare of Hell’s trumpet
copyright	Eriko Nagayama
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	BWV1001 B part (works)
copyright	Eriko Nagayama
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	BWV1001 end of B part and A’ part
copyright	Eriko Nagayama
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	BWV1001 Coda
copyright	Eriko Nagayama
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	BWV1001 A part
copyright	Eriko Nagayama
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	Fuga BWV1001 beginning with memo
copyright	E. Nagayama
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Still Life with a Violin, a Recorder, Books, a Portfolio of Sheet of Music, Peaches and Grapes on a Table Top, Jean-Baptiste Oudry, is in a private collection.
copyright	Private collection
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Keiichi Kataoka, On Symbolic Expression of J.S. Bach's Works - Reflective Examination and Investigation from the Aesthetic Viewpoint about a Tentative Plan of its Phasic Classification - continued (Tokushima, University of Tokushima, 1995)
copyright	Uni of Tokushima
license	Public domain
usages	picture

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Allegory and Symbolism in “Sei Solo” — Focusing on musical message by J.S. Bach, from Six Solo Violin Sonatas and Partitas BWV1001-1006 (2025)

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