Bach's later works, particularly in the last ten years of his life, show a powerful ascetic thrust where musical thought triumphs over complex contrapuntal constraints like canon, fugue, and variation.
Interpretation
The performer, Stéphane Bois, chose to record on the Bancells organ because its intrinsic qualities and specificities perfectly suit the contrapuntal and stylistic demands of Bach's late works.
Compositional Technique
The acrostic 'Regis Iussu Cantio Et Reliqua Canonica Arte Resoluta' (Theme given by the King, the rest resolved through the Art of Canon) hidden in the Ricercar's title summarizes Bach's compositional intent.
Composer's Artistic Vision
From 1739 onwards, Bach's organ music increasingly responded to an inner necessity, balancing 'ars' (art) and 'scientia' (science) rather than solely liturgical function.
Compositional Technique
The Ricercar à 6 voix from Bach's Musical Offering is an extraordinary six-voice fugue on a theme given by King Frederick II of Prussia.
Recording & Production
This album is a tribute to Gérard Bancells, a brilliant organist and organ builder, initiated by the Institut Catholique de Toulouse.
Instruments
The organ used for this recording, the Bancells organ at the Institut Catholique de Toulouse, was built in 1994 by Gérard Bancells, to whom this album is a tribute.
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