Informationen zu "Johann Sebastian Bach Transcribed: Fred Thomas 10 Bach Fugues for String Quartet Book 1 String Quartet"
Verlag: Spartan Press Music Publishers
Verlagsnummer: SP1376
EAN: 9790579983767
ISMN: M-57998-376-7
Beschreibung
The idea for these arrangements came to me whilst listening to the Hagen
Quartet's beautiful recording of the fugues that form part of Haydn's 'Sun
Quartets', Op. 20. The spirit and influence of J.S. Bach, in particular his
Well Tempered Clavier, Book II, courses through these three miraculous Haydn
fugues. Like the viol consort, the string quartet suits this kind of
composition (the fugue), with all four instruments sufficiently similar in
character to each other to match the extraordinary unity and economy of the
counterpoint. A string quartet playing Bach fugues is a good example of a
harmonious relationship between form and content: just as there is a unifying
principle behind the construction of the four string instruments, so there is
(usually) a single theme or subject that unifies the construction of a
four-part fugue. Thus the form enacts the content, telling you something
about the text and message within. Apart from Haydn's and a handful of other
composers' wondrous creations, there's little fugal writing for string
quartet, at least in comparison with the abundance of other forms. This was
another reason to make these arrangements. The quartet offers a melodic
independence impossible to achieve on a single instrument. And I believe the
technical and interpretative challenges posed by this repertoire ? lightness
of sound and rhythmic fluidity, for example - will be very valuable to
quartets seeking the holy grail: a unified sound. Perhaps the simplest and
most compelling reason for this work is that I just love this music more than
I can say. These dazzling pieces, mostly fast, bright and in major keys, show
Bach at his most playful, funny and mischievous, composing for an instrument
rarely associated with these qualities. And so I'm very happy to offer string
quartets these little know fugues, written by my favourite composer - a
violinist and violist himself, but above all a master polyphonist ? Johann
Sebastian Bach.
