Musikalisches Opfer

Our latest recording project evolves around Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Musikalisches Opfer” –

for the CD, please go to Musikalisches Opfer and for mp3 samples please go to samples.

Recording sessions took place January-May 2009: Rosalinde Haas on her Sperrhake pedal harpsichord and her Johannes Klais organ.

We present a program in three parts:

i. J. S. Bach: “Musikalisches Opfer” BWV 1079/1,2,4,5
(dedicated to King Frederick the Great)

ii. J.S. Bach: „Choralvorspiele“ BWV 653b, 734 and 645

iii. J.S. Bach: „Chromatische Fantasie & Fuge“ BWV 903

1 J.S. Bach: Musikalisches Opfer, Ricercare a 3 voci, BWV 1079/1 (harpsichord)

2 J.S. Bach: Musikalisches Opfer, Canon perpetuus super thema regium, BWV 1079/2
(organ, theme played by vox humana)

3    J.S. Bach: Musikalisches Opfer, Canon perpetuus super thema regium, BWV 1079/2
(organ, theme played by 8’ flute)

4 J.S. Bach: Musikalisches Opfer, Canon perpetuus super thema regium, BWV 1079/2
(organ, theme played by 4’ flute)

5 J.S. Bach: Musikalisches Opfer, Fuga canonica in epidiapente, BWV 1079/4
(organ, theme played by vox humana)

6 J.S. Bach: Musikalisches Opfer, Ricercare a 6 voci, BWV 1079/5
(making reference to Johannes Kepler’s “Harmonias universales omnium sex planetarum“) (harpsichord)

7 J.S. Bach: Organ chorale “An Wasserflüssen Babylon” (psalm 137), BWV 653b
(organ, melody played by vox humana)

8 J.S. Bach: Organ chorale “An Wasserflüssen Babylon” (psalm 137), BWV 653b
(organ, melody played by 4’ flute)

9 J.S. Bach: Organ chorale “Nun freut euch, lieben Christen g´mein”, BWV 734

10 J.S. Bach: Organ chorale „Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme“, BWV 645 (Bach’s own transcription of his aria “Zion hört die Wächter singen”, from Kantate 140) (organ)

11 J.S. Bach: Chromatische Fantasie & Fuge d minor, BWV 903: Fantasia (harpsichord)

12 J.S. Bach: Chromatische Fantasie & Fuge d minor, BWV 903: Fugue (harpsichord)

Rosalinde Haas offers a unique rendering of J.S. Bach’s Musikalisches Opfer, aiming for exquisite transparency: the Ricercare a 3 and 6 voices are played on her Sperrhake Pedal Harpsichord, whereas the “Canon perpetuus super thema regium” and the “Fuga epidiapente” are played on her Klais organ at home. The disc also features a recording of Bach’s “Chromatische Fantasie und Fuge” BWV 903, in Max Reger’s version for organ, interpreted on the pedal harpsichord. Inbetween three “Orgel Choralvorspiele”, including “An Wasserfluessen Babylon”. Rosalinde Haas’ interpretation of the coda of Bach’s Chromatische Fantasie pays reference to psalm 137: think of “By the rivers of Babylon we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willow trees…” when listening to the last minute of the Fantasia (track 11, minute 6 and following).