BWV 1080, für Kippschwingung/Rechteckschwingung
(ALKU 91, 2010)

Nine fugues from Johann Sebastian Bach's Die Kunst der Fuge played on a monophonic analog bass synthesizer. The tracks on side A were played using the sawtooth wave. The tracks on side AA were played using the square wave.
Limited edition chrome grade cassette. Acid green.
OUT OF PRINT

Side A (Kippschwingung)

  • Fuga a 3 Soggetti (Contrapunctus XIV)
  • Contrapunctus VII
  • Contrapunctus IX
  • Contrapunctus III
  • Contrapunctus XII

Side AA (Rechteckschwingung)

  • Contrapunctus V (slow)
  • Contrapunctus XI
  • Contrapunctus VI
  • Contrapunctus V (fast)
  • Canon per Augmentationem in Contrario Motu
  • Contrapunctus VII

Track A1, actually the very last of the fugues in Bach's score, was left unfinished due to the composer's untimely death, so the abrupt ending in this rendering is perfectly normal. The fugue includes the famous BACH motif (the notes B-A-C-H as in German nomenclature, in which B is B flat and H is B natural).

Final page of 'Contrapunctus XIV', the unfinished piece

Bach’s use of 'open score' notation in his manuscript of Art of Fugue - meaning that each fugal voice was written on a separate staff - seemed to leave the question of instrumentation 'open' as well. Was it meant for the keyboard, or could it be played by any instrument or ensemble? (…) Bach enthusiasts debate which keyboard instrument is best suited to Art of Fugue1.

For more information on Bach, see his home page.

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