Igor Markevitch abandoned composition at age 29 in 1941, a unique case in music history, and only returned to his works nearly 35 years later.
Recording & Production
This recording features the Arnhem Philharmonic Orchestra, which has gained international attention through its CD recordings for Naxos and Marco Polo under conductor Christopher Lyndon-Gee.
Composer Biography
Béla Bartók, a renowned Hungarian composer, considered Igor Markevitch "the most striking personality in contemporary music" after studying his score for 'Icare'.
Composition History
Bach's 'The Musical Offering' originated from a visit to Frederick the Great in 1747, where Bach improvised on a theme given by the King.
Interpretation
Igor Markevitch's orchestral version of 'The Musical Offering' reorders Bach's original movements and uses three stereophonically disposed orchestral groups, including winds, to clarify the thematic structure.
Composer Biography
Igor Markevitch, the composer of this orchestral version of Bach's work, was hailed in the 1930s as one of the singular voices of his time but later ignored his own compositions.
Compositional Technique
Bach's 'The Musical Offering' includes ten diverse and resourceful canons, some of which are 'puzzle' canons, like 'Quaerendo invenietis' ('Seek and ye shall find'), whose solution is left for the performer to discover.
