Bach: The Art of Fugue [Import]

Johann Sebastian Bach (Composer), Akademie fur Alte Musik Berlin (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Akademie fur Alte Musik Berlin
• Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
• Audio CD (January 11, 2011)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Harmonia Mundi
• ASIN: B0044ZQ8T4
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #100,635 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #50 in Music > Classical > Forms & Genres > Fugues

Editorial Reviews

Since Bach was more than cryptic in indicating the instrumentation of what is often regarded as his musical testament, The Art of Fugue has been subjected to an infinite variety of arrangements for all sorts of instruments. This recording follows a series of performances in which the musicians of the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin tested a highly unusual concept: rather than play uniformly one after the other the contrapuncti and canons that Bach left us, they have made great efforts to diversify both the instrumentarium and the macrostructure - to the point where we end up, to our delight, experiencing their interpretation as an exciting musical game for several players.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Variations on Variations: The Art of the Fugue in a New Light, April 6, 2011

By 

Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Bach: The Art of Fugue (Audio CD)

Johann Sebastian Bach was a perfectionist. There are many exemplary performances of his music on period instruments that follow his instructions to the note. Yet as far as THE ART OF THE FUGUE (Die Kunst der Fuge) is concerned we have no indications from the master as to how or on what instrument this mighty work was to be performed: Bach died before completing it. Since his death in 1750 the piece has been considered a work for keyboard - harpsichord, organ, or piano, yet there are indications in the score that other instruments could possibly have been intended. At least that is how the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin would interpret it.

The result is a performance of this masterpiece with altering instrumentation for every movement. Some of the variations are performed by a string quartet, others by harpsichord or organ, and others yet are performed by a woodwind trio. The final incomplete fugue is performed by the entire ensemble. Perhaps it is written somewhere or perhaps it is just happenstance, but the ensemble provides as a prelude the closing chorale from Bach's Cantata No. 38 - a work that resounds in melody throughout the fugue itself.

This performance may not be for purists, but for those who are forever infatuated by the resilience of Bach's creativity this is a gift - a new approach that may be a very old intention! Grady Harp, April 11