The Art of Fugue Mahan Esfahani and the Academy of Ancient Music: Thursday 21 Decembe

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

It may surprise you to hear that I don't particularly like Bach on the piano. It sounds too laboured (if that's the right word)

Probably as much as it might surprise you to hear that - with recordings from Fischer, Gould, and Denk - I can thoroughly enjoy Bach played on a piano (more so than on some period keyboard recordings!

but I'd be interested to hear an orchestrated version of AoF. Didn't Munchinger do something think this?

There is "Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra" recording - I don't know how "orchestral" it is. I "learnt" the work from Marriner's ASMF recording - soloists, rather than "massed" strings.

[BBMmk2]

Probably as much as it might surprise you to hear that - with recordings from Fischer, Gould, and Denk - I can thoroughly enjoy Bach played on a piano (more so than on some period keyboard recordings!


There is "Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra" recording - I don't know how "orchestral" it is. I "learnt" the work from Marriner's ASMF recording - soloists, rather than "massed" strings.

A classic in this is the ASMF/Marriner, with Andrew Davis(harpsichord!)

[Pulcinella]

The 2009 Penguin Guide says of the Stuttgart/Münchinger performance :
....allots the fugues to the strings and the canons to the solo woodwind, varied with solo strings.

It gets a **(*) rating, whereas the ASMF/Marriner gets the full ***.
Concerto Italiano/Alessandrini was also rated at **(*).

[MickyD]

I've got the Musica Antiqua Koln version plus another on solo harpsichord by Kenneth Gilbert. Both fine recordings, but personally I find the music difficult to listen to.

[BBMmk2]

I've got the Musica Antiqua Koln version plus another on solo harpsichord by Kenneth Gilbert. Both fine recordings, but personally I find the music difficult to listen to.

What, the actual work itself? IIR, I don't think it was meant for public performance?

[MickyD]

Yes, bbm, I've never found it an easy work to listen to...maybe I should get both discs off the shelf and give them another go.

[BBMmk2]

Yes, bbm, I've never found it an easy work to listen to...maybe I should get both discs off the shelf and give them another go.

Yes. maybe it's because JSB knew that the Baroque era was coming to an end and wanted to show to the world what the fugue was etc....
I don't know if you had any musical training but that might help, MicklyD?

[MickyD]

Yes. maybe it's because JSB knew that the Baroque era was coming to an end and wanted to show to the world what the fugue was etc....
I don't know if you had any musical training but that might help, MicklyD?

I am sure it would, bbm....it is to my eternal regret that I cannot play any instrument nor read a note of music. I think I have a good ear, but that's where it stops.

[BBMmk2]

I am sure it would, bbm....it is to my eternal regret that I cannot play any instrument nor read a note of music. I think I have a good ear, but that's where it stops.

Never too late to learn. Even top read music!

[MickyD]

True, but at almost 60, I can't think I'd progress very much!