Bach: The Art Of Fugue / Sébastien Guillot

$13.99
Label
Naxos
Release Date
May 16, 2006
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      BACH J.S.
    • PERFORMER
      Sébastien Guillot (Harpsichord)
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      May 16, 2006
    • UPC
      747313279623
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      8557796
    • LABEL
      Naxos
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      1
    • GENRE
      Instrumental
    Works ⌄

    1. Fugue 1 (Contrapunctus 1)

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Sebastien Guillot

    2. Fugue 2 (Contrapunctus 3)

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Sebastien Guillot

    3. Fugue 3 (Contrapunctus 2)

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Sebastien Guillot

    4. Fugue 4 (Contrapunctus 5)

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Sebastien Guillot

    5. Fugue 5 (Contrapunctus 9)

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Sebastien Guillot

    6. Fugue 6 (Contrapunctus 10 and 14)

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Sebastien Guillot

    7. Fugue 7 (Contrapunctus 6)

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Sebastien Guillot

    8. Fugue 8 (Contrapunctus 7)

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Sebastien Guillot

    9. Canon in Hypodiapason (Contrapunctus 16)

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Sebastien Guillot

    10. Fugue 10 (Contrapunctus 8)

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Sebastien Guillot

    11. Fugue 11 (Contrapunctus 11)

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Sebastien Guillot

    12. Canon in Hypodiatessaron, al roverscio e per augmentationem

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Sebastien Guillot

    13. Fugue 13 (a) Forma recta (Contrapunctus 12a)

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Sebastien Guillot

    14. Fugue 13 (b) Forma inversa (Contrapunctus 12b)

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Sebastien Guillot

    15. Fugue 14 (Forma inversa) (Contrapunctus 13)

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Sebastien Guillot

    16. Canon al roverscio et per augmentationem (Contrapunctus 15)

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Sebastien Guillot

    17. Fugue 19 (fragment of a fugue with several subjects) (Contrapunctus 20)

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Sebastien Guillot


For his recording of Bach's The Art of Fugue, harpsichordist Sébastien Guillot includes the composer's early autograph versions. Although Bach's more familiar revisions generally were for the better, his first thoughts make for fascinating comparison. Contrapunctus 1's first version contains alternate note readings and lacks the gorgeous coda Bach added as an inspired afterthought. If the piece often referred to as Contrapunctus 10 sounds as if it starts mid-stream, so to speak, that's because we're used to the 22 sublime bars Bach subsequently tacked on to the beginning. The early version of the canon in augmentation and inversion is fascinatingly florid, but without the revision's extraordinary chromatic tension and melodic humor that Guillot brilliantly conveys. Other differences involve ornamental more than compositional refinements.

In an era where a few too many harpsichordists embrace these pieces with fussy agogics, crawling tempos, and a reverential halo, Guillot's fleet, uncluttered, and enlivening interpretations are positively refreshing. Ornaments and cadenzas are infused with improvisatory joy, while Guillot's rolled chords contain more gestural and expressive variety than we often hear. Should you prefer more repose and austerity (and some listeners undoubtedly will), I'd stick with Robert Hill, Gustav Leonhardt, and Davitt Moroney. But if Guillot's extroversion entices, then by all means supplement your collection with this inexpensive, beautifully engineered release.

--Jed Distler, ClassicsToday.com