Bach expected performers to approach his pieces differently, viewing ornamentation as a matter of the player's taste rather than the composer's strict instruction.
Compositional Technique
The North German toccata, as exemplified by Bach's works, owes more to the Italian variation canzona than to the Italian toccata form.
Instruments
The harpsichord used for this album was built by Jukka Ollikka in Prague, completed in 2018, and is based on theories and examples by Michael Mietke.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Bach's toccatas combine earthy free sections with abstract fugues, which can be seen as a meeting point of human imperfection and godly perfection.
Composition History
Unlike his partitas or English suites, Bach likely did not intend for these toccatas to be a single collection.
Composition History
J.S. Bach's seven toccatas (BWV910-916) have a complex source history, with none surviving in his own handwriting.
Performer Biography
Mahan Esfahani, the harpsichordist, is dedicated to bringing the harpsichord into the mainstream concert world.
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