Proms Saturday Matinee 1 (21.7.12): Bach – The Art of Fugue

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Saturday 21 July 3.00pm – c. 4.30pm
Cadogan Hall

J. S. Bach: The Art of Fugue (arr. M. Esfahani) (70 mins)

Mahan Esfahani harpsichord/director
Academy of Ancient Music

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

It isn't HIPP, but it isn't Stokowski either. As The Art of Fugue was probably never performed in Bach's time, perhaps we can be a little freer in our interpretations. Personally I like the idea of the contrapuntal lines being given to separate instruments. (But I suspect that will surprise no-one )

[Serial_Apologist]

Terrific programme of afternoon chamber concerts at the Cadogan this year, I note - more interesting and more varied than the concerts at the AH.

[doversoul1]

I am very much looking forward to this concert.

[ed] An article by Mahan Esfahani
Classical music is still banned, censored or denied mainstream approval in some parts of the world – and yet it is loved by millions, writes Iranian-born musician Mahan Esfahani

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/jul/20/mahan-esfahani-proms

[doversoul1]

I don’t know about the musicological verdict, but I thought this was a very interesting and enjoyable concert. Christopher Cook’s presentation was exemplary.

[BBMmk2]

I am looking forward to hearingf this on iplayer this weekend! If it's done by AAM, can't be bad!

[PJPJ]

I don’t know about the musicological verdict, but I thought this was a very interesting and enjoyable concert. Christopher Cook’s presentation was exemplary.

Wasn't it just? And CC waited patiently for the applause to die down a little at the end before announcing further. An excellent and thoroughly enjoyable follow-up to last year's Goldberg Vars.

[Pegleg]

It was fascinating to hear Mahan Esfahani's personal take on this enigmatic work, and I agree that the presentation was of a standard others could learn from. The AAM have posted a 10min youtube vid where Mahan Esfahani, Pavlo Beznosiuk and other AAM Musicians talk about this performance.

http://youtu.be/rJ1U3VPRShs

[Roehre]

As I do like non-organ performances of the Kunst der Fuge (I prefer strings in any form) and as the work is one of my all time favourites, I really looked out to listening to this performance.
I must say: this was exciting. Really a must for Bach-admirers and -fans IMO.
Lovely and inspiring performance. Well and delicately orchestrated (I like that trumpet- and not only in that final chorale).

For me the only bit negative point (as "only" a listener) is, that the manyfold long pauses between the movements, including a more than average (re-)tuning, meant that the "drive" was a bit taken out of the music (which therefore lasted more than 95 minutes - a record among KdF-performances if these pauses are not taken into consideration).
But compared to the music and the quality of its performance really only a minor point.

The presentation was examplary - third programme quality.

Is available on iPlayer, and will be repeated Sunday July 29th 2pm.
Strongly recommended

[Richard J.]

I'm interested to hear any views from people who are more familiar with the Art of Fuge than I am (this was the first time I had heard the whole work) about the inclusion of a Chorale Prelude at the end, after the incomplete fugue. I assume this was done in order to finish the work "tidily", but I think I would have preferred to end it at the incomplete fugue, rather than having the prelude tacked on. What do others think?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I assume this was done in order to finish the work "tidily", but I think I would have preferred to end it at the incomplete fugue, rather than having the prelude tacked on.

...or even a "completion"?

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

wonderful performance ...

[BBMmk2]

I hope to make an arrangment of this for brass(as in brass band instrumentation, will sound less harsh than with orchestral brass).

[Roehre]

I'm interested to hear any views from people who are more familiar with the Art of Fuge than I am (this was the first time I had heard the whole work) about the inclusion of a Chorale Prelude at the end, after the incomplete fugue. I assume this was done in order to finish the work "tidily", but I think I would have preferred to end it at the incomplete fugue, rather than having the prelude tacked on. What do others think?

The KdF ends with the unfinished Quadruple fugue (though we are only presented three of the themes, meaning that JSBach had sketched at least the themes already, but these sketches went astray, as all Bach sketches but for 2 or 3 sheets).

The Chorale Wenn wir in höchsten Nöten sind [BWV 668]is an addition to be found in the first edition of the work (1751;editor unknown. 2nd edition by Marburg, 1752, is identical but for the preface/epilogues). An appropriate chorale, but nevertheless highly questionable whether it was JSBach's intent to add it.

Apart from live broadcasts like this one, I never end my listening to the KdF with the chorale, but always with the unfinished fugue.

[Roehre]

I hope to make an arrangment of this for brass(as in brass band instrumentation, will sound less harsh than with orchestral brass).

I seem to recall that such a brass-arrangement exists already, but i cannot remember where I've seen it.
I certainly haven't heard it, as I haven't attended a concert with a "Brass".-KdF and it isn't in my collection (A broadcast would have resulted in an off-air recording, and no CD of such an arrangement).