Customer Reviews

Bach: The Art of Fugue

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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