Johann Sebastian Bach

Bach On the Wild Side

It’s J.S. Bach, but with a difference. An entire additional voice grafted onto a simple two-part invention makes a fiendishly difficult trio, but that’s just for starters. This week, we take a step beyond our usual understanding of Bach and listen to some of his most challenging scores brought to the edge by provocative modern interpretors. We’ll hear a jazzy reworking of the Air on the G-String, a Dutch rock musician’s take on the famous Toccata, and Porter Heaps’ Swinging After Bach.

From youthful virtuosity to arrangements beyond-the-pale, performers, composers and transcribers visit with the great master from Leipzig and invite him out for a real trip. Be prepared for excitement and surprise as we take Bach on the Wild Side.

Listen to the program

Program Broadcast dates:

• March 10, 2003

Music played in the program

J.S. BACH: Toccata & Fugue in d, S. 565 –Franz Hauk (1977 Klais/Ingolstadt Münster, Germany) Guild GMCD 7217

PORTER HEAPS: Swinging Bach, after S. 565 –Gabriel Dessauer (1985 Seifert; Mayer/St. Bonifatius Church, Wiesbaden, Germany) BoniChor CD-03

J.S. BACH (transcribed by Frederick Hohman): Arioso, from Orchestral Suite Number 3, S. 1068 –Frederick Hohman (1997 Schoenstein/First Plymouth Congregational, Lincoln, NE) Pro Organo CD 7077

J.S. BACH: Vivace, from Trio Sonata Number 2 in c, S. 526; 2 Chorale-preludes on Ach Gott und Herr, S. 692/3 –Jean Guillou (1988 Kleuker-Steinmeyer/Tonhalle, Zürich, Switzerland) Dorian DOR 90150

PERCY GRAINGER: Blithe Bells, after Bach’s aria Sheep may safely graze… –Michael Ferguson (1990 Visser-Rowland/Wooddale Church, Eden Prairie, MN) Pipedreams Archive recorded November 19, 2000

MAX REGER: 4 Inventions after Bach; trio versions of Bach Two-part Inventions –Paul Jacobs (1971 Beckerath/Dwight Chapel, Yale University, New Haven, CT) Pipedreams Archive recorded December 11, 2002

J.S. BACH (arranged by Jan Vayne): Toccata & Fugue, fter S. 565 –Jan Vayne (unidentified instrument) Radio Nederland tape

J.S. BACH: Prelude in b, S. 544 –Ton Koopman (1732 Garrels/Grote Kerk, Maassluis, The Netherlands) Teldec CD-94458

J.S. BACH: Fugue in b, S. 544 –Anthony Newman (1979 Rieger/Concert Hall, SUNY-Purchase, NY) Kleos Classics CD-5107

J.S. BACH: Passacaglia & Fugue in c, S. 582 –Virgil Fox (1962 Aeolian-Skinner/Philharmonic Hall, Lincoln Center, New York, NY) Command LP-11018