Bach, J S: The Art of Fugue, BWV1080
Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin (Chamber ensemble) with Raphael Alpermann (organ)
Beautifully conceived and executed: superb clarity, attention to detail and absolute conviction. More fun, too, than plain keyboard versions.
Bach, J S: The Art of Fugue, BWV1080
Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin (Chamber ensemble) with Raphael Alpermann (organ)
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Beautifully conceived and executed: superb clarity, attention to detail and absolute conviction. More fun, too, than plain keyboard versions.
About
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!
Contents and tracklist
Bach, J S:
Die Kunst der Fuge, BWV 1080: Contrapunctus 2. Einfache Fuge über das Thema in seiner Urgestalt, a 4
Work length3:36
Bach, J S:
Die Kunst der Fuge, BWV 1080: Contrapunctus 3. Einfache Fuge über die Umkehrung des Themas, a 4
Work length2:47
Bach, J S:
Die Kunst der Fuge, BWV 1080: Contrapunctus 4. Einfache Fuge über die Umkehrung des Themas, a 4
Work length4:25
Bach, J S:
Die Kunst der Fuge, BWV 1080: Contrapunctus 5. Gegenfuge über das variierte Thema und seine Umkehrung in einer Wertgröße, a 4
Work length2:51
Bach, J S:
Die Kunst der Fuge, BWV 1080: Contrapunctus 6. Gegenfuge über das variierte Thema und seine Umkehrung in zwei verschiedenen Wertgrößen, a 4
Work length3:16
Bach, J S:
Die Kunst der Fuge, BWV 1080: Contrapunctus 7. Gegenfuge über das variierte Thema und seine Umkehrung in drei verschiedenen Wertgrößen, a 4
Work length4:14
Bach, J S:
Die Kunst der Fuge, BWV 1080: Kanon 16. Kanon in der Dezime. Contrapunto alla terza
Work length4:06
Bach, J S:
Die Kunst der Fuge, BWV 1080: Contrapunctus 8. Tripelfuge über zwei neue Themen und das variierte Hauptthema, a 3
Work length6:08
Bach, J S:
Die Kunst der Fuge, BWV 1080: Contrapunctus 9. Doppelfuge über eine neues Thema und über das Hauptthema, a 4
Work length2:41
Bach, J S:
Die Kunst der Fuge, BWV 1080: Contrapunctus 10. Doppelfuge über eine neues Thema und über das variierte Hauptthema, a 4
Work length4:05
Bach, J S:
Die Kunst der Fuge, BWV 1080: Contrapunctus 11. Tripelfuge über zwei neue Themen und das variierte Hauptthema a 4
Work length6:36
Awards and reviews
April 2011
Beautifully conceived and executed: superb clarity, attention to detail and absolute conviction. More fun, too, than plain keyboard versions.
March 2011
an unusually dramatic exploration of linear and textural variation...the incremental effect is both studied and often strikingly effective.
3rd February 2011
It's usually assumed now that it was conceived for a keyboard instrument, but the layout of the score does not preclude a much more varied instrumentation. That is what the Akademie für Alte Musik has adopted, preserving the overall musical shape of the sequence, but regularly sharpening the contrasts between successive numbers and varying the orchestrations as widely as possible.
7th January 2011
[They] imbue the methodical counterpoints with new life by sharing them between strings and wind, and by sequencing the series for maximum contrast...Whatever the sequence, it's the vivid way in which the Akademie realise Bach's ingenious structures that makes the recording so compelling.
26th December 2010
A fresh look at one of Bach's most elusive masterpieces proves that this is far more than paper music. The lively Berlin early music group make the sometimes dry counterpoint burst with inventiveness and life...their scintillating responsiveness to Bach's complex structures is a continual delight.
15th January 2011
the mix of sounds from this crack Berlin ensemble is particularly lively. Whether in solos, trios, quartets or a combined mass of 22, the players beaver away on strings, winds and harpsichord, illuminating the interwoven threads and adding useful spice to music that plays for more than an hour in the same key.
