Art of Fugue Main Performer or Conductor: Fretwork Soloists: Richard Campbell Julia Hodgson Wendy Gillespie William Hunt Susanna Pell Richard Boothby Instrumentation: Viols Individual Works: Art of Fugue, BWV 1080 1 Contrapunctus 1 2 Contrapunctus 3 3 Contrapunctus 2 4 Contrapunctus 4 5 Canon alla Ottava 6 Contrapunctus 5 7 Contrapunctus 6 8 Contrapunctus 7 9 Canon alla Duodecima in Contrapunto alla Quinta 10 Contrapunctus 9 11 Contrapunctus 10 12 Canon alla decima [in] Contrapunto alla Terza 13 Contrapunctus 8 14 Contrapunctus 11 15 Contrapunctus 12 rectus 16 Contrapunctus 12 inversus 17 Contrapunctus [13] rectus 18 Contrapunctus [13] inversus 19 Canon per Augmentationem in Contrario Motu 20 Fuga a 3 Soggetti Format: Compact Disc Record Label: Harmonia Mundi Catalog Number: HMU 907296 Year Released/Recorded: 2002 Total Playing Time: 76:13 Related Web Site: http://www.fretwork.co.uk Comments: Jan Hanford said: Fretwork is an excellent ensemble and their recording of the Art of Fugue is outstanding. While not as sublime as the version by Phantasm (although Wendy Gilespie is a member of both ensembles), this is still a stunning performance. The Art of Fugue was neglected for many years and now we suddenly have a burst of recordings on various instruments from solo keyboard to multi-instrumental ensemble. Here we have 6 viols. Fretwork's source is the original manuscript and the 1751 edition. The combination of the viols is mesmerizing. The tone is uniform but never dull, the lines weave around eachother, the different voices are clear and the result is truly lovely. I am always moved when the unfinished fugue stops and find the whole thing quite emotional. A remarkable performance that I will return to frequently. Acknowledgements: From the collection of Jan Hanford. Date First Submitted: 11/30/2002 Purchasing: Suggested Purchasing Sources Note: Inclusion in this database does not guarantee the availability of any recording. Some recordings may be out-of-print or no longer available.

---

About This Site Biography, Portraits and Literature Works by BWV Number Works by Category Works by Instrument & Title Works by Key Works by Title Works by Year The Cantatas Project Recordings by Title Recordings by Conductor or Main Performer Recordings by Instrument Recordings by BWV Number Recordings by Record Label Recordings Submitted Recently Web Sites with Bach Information Web Sites with Bach MIDI Files Featured Recordings Suggested Purchasing Sources