What Art of Fugue?

[Thropplenoggin]

The piece was written for the Societaet der musikalischen Wissenschaften and each member (Bach, Handel, Telemann and later Mozart) had to contribute a theoretical or practical piece with the aim of developing music along the philosophical lines of Pythagoras.

Yes, I do think it was written for keyboard - but I somehow don't get it. I much prefer a string quartet version.

Interesting. I never knew that, Pianorak. Do you have the names of the pieces Handel, Telemann and Mozart contributed?

I find the Art of Fugue a difficult listen for now, being as it is something of a clinical cerebral musical exercise. I know this is not what French Frank asked for, but works that have warmed me to it are a combination of the Fretwork viol consort's warmer approach and Emerson Quartet's ruthless rigour.

[Bryn]

How about the Keller Quartet (on CD) supplemented by the DVD of much of the work interspersed with short items by Kurtag (plus 'Cello Suites 1 & 5 played by Anner Bylsma).

[Pianorak]

. . . Do you have the names of the pieces Handel, Telemann and Mozart contributed?

Not off hand but I suppose one could dig them up. Telemann submitted a treatese about a "Neuen Musikalischen Systems" to the Society in 1742/43.

I find the Art of Fugue a difficult listen for now, being as it is something of a clinical cerebral musical exercise. . .

It is indeed - probably the reason why I don't get it.

[Pianorak]

How about the Keller Quartet (on CD) supplemented by the DVD of much of the work interspersed with short items by Kurtag (plus 'Cello Suites 1 & 5 played by Anner Bylsma). . .

Can't get away from Kurtag these days. Jonathan Biss plays Kurtag's Birthday elegy for Judit before launching into Schubert's "Reliquie" Piano Sonata D.840.

[Roehre]

The piece was written for the Societaet der musikalischen Wissenschaften and each member (Bach, Handel, Telemann and later Mozart) had to contribute a theoretical or practical piece with the aim of developing music along the philosophical lines of Pythagoras.

Yes, I do think it was written for keyboard - but I somehow don't get it. I much prefer a string quartet version.

That makes two of us. I also enjoyed the instrumental version as perfomed by Mahan Esfahani/Academy of Ancient Music
during the Proms, but that has not been released in commercial form afaik (yet?).

[Pianorak]

That makes two of us. I also enjoyed the instrumental version as perfomed by Mahan Esfahani/Academy of Ancient Music during the Proms, but that has not been released in commercial form afaik (yet?).

Oh, of course! I remember that - thanks for the reminder.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

The piece was written for the Societaet der musikalischen Wissenschaften and each member (Bach, Handel, Telemann and later Mozart) had to contribute a theoretical or practical piece with the aim of developing music along the philosophical lines of Pythagoras.

This Society was founded by Lorenz Mizler, who was a physician and amateur mathematician and composer. He was keen to link his two passions by promoting scientific research into Music - Leopold Mozart was invited to join after the publication of his treatise on Violin playing, but declined: the Society had largely lost its kudos by the mid 1750s and there are (as far as I know) no later members than this. Mozart jnr wasn't a member and by the time Mizler died in 1778, the Society had folded. I'm not sure what Handel provided for the Society (and his activities there must have been limited to his visit to Leipzig in 1745) but it is thanks to Mizler that we owe the Von Himmel Hoch canonic variations, The Art of Fugue, a triple invertable canon and the most famous portrait of Bach. They were also presented with the score of The Musical Offering - we have a lot for which to thank Dr Mizler.

[BBMmk2]

I have a really good nonHIPP recording, well 2 Infact. ASMF/Neville Marriner and I know it had to be, Canadian Brass Quintet

[Bryn]

I have a really good nonHIPP recording, well 2 Infact. ASMF/Neville Marriner and I know it had to be, Canadian Brass Quintet

Thanks to your earlier contributions on the work I Googled, found and ordered that Canadian Brass recording. Great fun and highly musical to boot. I also hold the MAK recording in high regard, and the Isoir, come to that. Oh, and many of the others already mentioned here. I don't think W. Carlos has done the whole thing. I'd be after that is she had.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I'm not sure what Handel provided for the Society (and his activities there must have been limited to his visit to Leipzig in 1745)

Errr ... not necessarily: GFH made other trips to Germany after 1745. But I can't find anything in the Wiki List of Compositions of GFH that would seem suitable for the Society. Was he an "honorary member", I wonder? (Or am I just not looking carefully enough?)


PS: For a piano performance, I second (?/"third"?) Charles Rosen.

[Bryn]

Errr ... not necessarily: GFH made other trips to Germany after 1745. But I can't find anything in the Wiki List of Compositions of GFH that would seem suitable for the Society. Was he an "honorary member", I wonder? (Or am I just not looking carefully enough?)


PS: For a piano performance, I second (?/"third"?) Charles Rosen.

The Rosen (on LPs) was the first commercial recording of the work I got. I grabbed the CD version a decade or so ago. "Essential Classics" is indeed the appropriate label for it.



It should be noted that the other items on the double album are played by Rosalyn Tureck. rather than by Charles Rosen.

[french frank]

I've located the Gilbert/Archiv recording and gone for that. Not the cheapest copy available but amazon.de (at €11) don't seem quite as friendly as elsewhere and said they wouldn't send it to my address .

For the piano version, there does seem to be a predilection for Rosen so when I'm thoroughly familiar with Gilbert's I'll probably be on the look-out for that.

[gurnemanz]

I have two very different versions, both already mentioned, and am just chipping in to add my recommendation.

Fretwork on viols: http://www.mdt.co.uk/bach-the-art-of...nia-mundi.html

Charles Rosen on piano. I have a very attractive Sony twofer which seems now to be only available second hand or as a download:

http://www.hmvdigital.com/artist/charles-rosen-rosalyn-tureck/essential-classics-take-2-bach-keyboard-album

[Bryn]

...

Charles Rosen on piano. I have a very attractive Sony twofer which seems now to be only available second hand or as a download:
http://www.hmvdigital.com/artist/cha...keyboard-album

Cheaper used "good condition" in CD format via amazon.co.uk . Just search there for "bach art fugue rosen" (without the quote marks).

[richardfinegold]

I have a really good nonHIPP recording, well 2 Infact. ASMF/Neville Marriner and I know it had to be, Canadian Brass Quintet

I second the Marriner recording. Pentatone has reissued it in multichannel.