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| Bach: The Art of Fugue; Musical Offering | 
 enlarge | Creators: Johann Sebastian Bach, Karl Munchinger, Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, Stuttgarter Kammerorchester
Label: Decca
Category: Music
List Price: $17.98
Buy New: $12.69
You Save: $5.29 (29%)
Buy New/Used from $9.94
Avg. Customer Rating:  (15 reviews)
Sales Rank: 8331
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 2
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 467267
UPC: 028946726723
EAN: 0028946726723
ASIN: B000050GK0
Release Date: March 13, 2001
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
Disc 1
| • | Die Kunst der Fuge, BWV 1080: Contrapunctus I | | • | Contrapunctus II | | • | Contrapunctus III | | • | Contrapunctus IV | | • | Contrapunctus V | | • | Contrapunctus VI | | • | Contrapunctus VII | | • | Contrapunctus VIII | | • | Contrapunctus IX | | • | Contrapunctus X | | • | Contrapunctus XI | | • | Canon alla octava | | • | Canon alla duodecima | | • | Canon alla decima | | • | Canon per augmentationem in contrario moto | | • | Contrapunctus XII (rectus) | | • | Contrapunctus XII (inversus) | | • | Fuga a 2 Clavicemabli (rectus) | | • | Fuga a 2 Clavicemabli (inversus) |
Disc 2
| • | Die Kunst der Fuge, BWV 1080: Contrapunctus XII (rectus) | | • | Die Kunst der Fuge, BWV 1080: Contrapunctus XII (inversus) | | • | Die Kunst der Fuge, BWV 1080: Fuga a 4 soggetti | | • | Musikalisches Opfer, BWV 1079: Ricercar a 3 | | • | Musikalisches Opfer, BWV 1079: Canon perpetuus a 2 | | • | Musikalisches Opfer, BWV 1079: Canon a 2 violini in unisono | | • | Musikalisches Opfer, BWV 1079: Canon a 2 per motum contrarium | | • | Musikalisches Opfer, BWV 1079: Canon a 2 per augmentationem, contrario motu | | • | Musikalisches Opfer, BWV 1079: Canon a 2 | | • | Musikalisches Opfer, BWV 1079: Canon a 2 | | • | Musikalisches Opfer, BWV 1079: Canon a 2 per tonos | | • | Musikalisches Opfer, BWV 1079: Canon perpetuus contrario motu | | • | Musikalisches Opfer, BWV 1079: Canon a 4 | | • | Musikalisches Opfer, BWV 1079: Fuga canonica | | • | Musikalisches Opfer, BWV 1079: Sonata a 3: I - Largo | | • | Musikalisches Opfer, BWV 1079: Sonata a 3: II - Allegro | | • | Musikalisches Opfer, BWV 1079: Sonata a 3: III - Andante | | • | Musikalisches Opfer, BWV 1079: Sonata a 3: IV - Allegro | | • | Musikalisches Opfer, BWV 1079: Ricercar a 6 |
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| Customer Reviews: Read 10 more reviews...
 A fine but uninformed performance May 22, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
After reading Douglas R. Hofstadter's "Godel, Escher, Bach", I was inspired to learn more about Bach's "Musical Offering". I bought Dover Publications' sheet music of "The Art of the Fugue and A Musical Offering", H. T. David's "J. S. Bach's Musical Offering: History, Interpretation, and Analysis" (currently out of print), and this CD.
While reading the CD insert, I found the line, "It is unlikely that Bach ever intended this study in canonic technique to be performed as a whole", and I was sorely disappointed. After reading the excellent book by David, I was under no doubt that the work was indeed intended to be performed as a whole, and made perfect sense when performed properly. Also, it is not a study in canonic technique. Bach did that sufficiently in his other works. This was meant to be a study in the forms of music in vogue at that time: Canon, Ricercar, and Sonata.
When I looked at the playlist of "A Musical Offering", I saw that the CD producers truly believed it was never meant to be performed as a whole. There was no rhyme nor reason to the ordering of the tracks, placing the ricercar a 3 first, followed by all 10 canons in random order, followed by the sonata and the ricercar a 6. According to David's convincing arguments, the order ought to be the ricercar a 3, the five canons containing the royal fugue but that don't use it as canonic material, the sonata, the five canons that do use the royal theme as canonic material, and then the ricercar a 6. And, the producers made no effort to try to keep continuity between the sections. The ricercar a 3 was performed on harpsichord, which disjointed it from the rest of the work.
Other than these complaints, the CD is admittedly performed very well. It would be a valuable addition to any Bach library (and, according to other reviews, one of the more valuable additions of these works), but the true Bach enthusiast should keep these things in mind while listening.
otherworldly music April 24, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
this is not a review of the relative merit of this recording vis-a-vis the merit of other recordings of Bach's Musical Offering. It is a comment on the nature of some of the music (particularly on disc 1) compared with other Bach pieces. I continue to listen to this incredulously and attempt to historically place it in some context with other Bach pieces I am familiar with. It just doesn't jive. Is there any semblance to the melodic baroque of the Brandenburg concertos, or a likeness of complexity to the Passions? I find none. As a matter of fact I wouldn't have been surprised if it had been written in the nineteenth century, or even perhaps, the 20th century. The rampant dissonances and modern turn of musical phrase are truly illustrative of Bach's breadth of imagination.
A Musical Offering - Hard Core Bach January 30, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Enough has already been said about "The Art of the Fugue." It's a great work and this is a good CD for it. What intrigues me is the "Musical Offering."
What do you do when a tyrannical despot who has essentially created modern Prussia at the point of a gun, with seeming contempt, throws down a challenge to you and everything you stand for and hold dear? Fredrick the Great had Bach hauled (metaphorically, not literally) into his presence so that he could throw a 21 note string melody at him. Fredrick generally despised Bach's music as antiquated and academic. These notes were deliberately put together (according to some - see my review of "Evening in the Palace of Reason") to humiliate him. Bach took the challenge, went away and came back with what is now known as the "Musical Offering." In effect, from top to bottom, from the deliberate inscription in the German language rather than Fredrick's preferred French, it is an "in your face" - "back at ya' " work that eminently satisfies all the rules of music and more importantly, truth. This work is a celebration of order over chaos and is, to my mind, most enjoyable when heard against that background.
I think the first movement is the best. It sums up all the rest and alone would have been sufficient to the challenge. All the rest, although superb, are really just icing on the cake. None of it is music that will set you humming the rest of the day. That is not the point. The power of the movements, the cosmic orbit of counter-point themes in the canons revolving around the challenger's 21 notes, transcend mere melody. This is philosophy in sound, the reproof of error and the despising of mere mortal power, all proclaimed in brilliant composition.
Read "An Evening in the Palace of Reason" or some other work that gives some insight into Bach's life and approach to music and then listen to this work. It always lifts my heart to hear it. The good guy's work is eternal even if the despot got the glory in his life time.
Step Into The World Of Bach June 9, 2007
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
I have nothing but good things to say about this double album. These extremely well-balanced compositions are sure to enthrall listeners with the most discerning taste. The theme here is point and counterpoint, done to perfection. These pieces are like complex equations, only done with music instead of numbers. Bach had an amazing musical mind, and this music showcases that. There is so much to the music; it is quite rich and there is so much going on here that you may not process it all the first time. If you like classical music and Bach's style, this is essential for your collection.
Great recordings May 20, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
After I read Evening in the Palace of Reason: Bach Meets Frederick the Great in the Age of Enlightenment (P.S.), I had to have "Musical Offering" and "The Art of Fugue," and bought this version based on recommendations. The performance by an orchestra, rather than a single instrument such as a piano or harpsichord, seems to bring out the different voices. I listen to it over and over, and never tire of it.
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