Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet Johann Sebastian Bach - The Art of Fugue Channel Classics CCS 12698, 1998
TRACK LISTINGS The Art of Fugue, for keyboard (or other instruments), BWV 1080 01. Contrapunctus 1 3:14 02. Contrapunctus 3 3:04 03. Contrapunctus 2 3:01 04. Contrapunctus 4 5:07 05. Canon Alla Duodecima in Contrapunto Alla Quinta 4:16 06. Contrapunctus 5 3:36 07. Contrapunctus 6 A 4 in Stylo Francese 3:22 08. Contrapunctus 7 a 4 Per Augment Et Diminut 4:50 09. Contrapunctus 8 A 3 6:33 10. Contrapunctus 9 A 4 Alla Duodecima 2:26 11. Contrapunctus A 3 c 2:18 12. Contrapunctus Inversus A 3 c 2:20 13. Contrapunctus 10 a 4 Alla Decima 4:22 14. Contrapunctus Inversus 12 A 4 2:30 15. Contrapunctus Inversus 12 a 4 2:10 16. Contrapunctus 11 a 4 6:53 17. Canon Alla Ottava 4:11 18. Fuga A 3 Soggetti 8:46 The Art of Fugue is a complex work -- not the first piece by Bach one falls in love with. We don't really know what instrument this was written for, as Bach wrote out each part on a separate line. There have been arrangements for nearly every conceivable combination. Some excellent versions are Vladimir Feltsman on piano, Grigory Sokolov on piano, Berliner Saxophon Quartett, Pittsburgh Symphony Brass, Bernard Lagace on organ, Jordi Savall on small ensemble period instruments. Purists will sneer, but I even like the excerpts recorded over a span of years by Glenn Gould on Sony. Unfortunately, though I like the Goldberg Variations on harpsichord, I have yet to find a version of AOF on harpsichord that I like. Back to the Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet. Their version is distinguished by the fact that the sound of their recorders somewhat resembles that of an organ (naturally, both being wind through a column instruments) but much gentler. The different recorders have different timbre as well, making it easier to follow the line of each voice. Besides the sonic qualities, the interpretation is at the same time profound and yet dance like. These men are outstanding musicians. Generally I don't recommend an exotic instrumentation of a work as the first version to buy. But in this case anyone would do well to make this recording their first, or second, or tenth version of The Art of Fugue.320 kbps; including full booklet scans
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