Richard Barth

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Richard Barth (1850-1908) was a left-handed German violin virtuoso, conductor, music teacher and composer in the circle of Johannes Brahms. Barth was born in Grosswanzleben, Saxony and from 1863 to 1867 studied with the renowned violinist Joseph Joachim. Barth used his left hand for bowing and his right hand for fingering and so played the violin "in reverse." Nonetheless, he was successful as a violinist and served as concertmaster of orchestras in Munster, Krefeld and Marburg and headed a string quartet. He was also a successful music teacher. He was music director of the university in Marburg before he moved to Hamburg where he became conductor of the Philharmonie and the Singakademie and directed the Conservatory beginning in 1908.

Barth's Ciacona in B minor composed in 1908 is a finely crafted tribute to JS Bach's Chaconne in post-Paganini technical and tonal terms.

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• Liner notes by Eric Wen for the recording of Solo Chaconnes (by Bach, Barth and Max Reger) performed by Jennifer Koh (Cedille CDR 90000 060)