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Bach: The Art of Fugue | 
 enlarge | Artists: Johann Sebastian Bach, Emerson String Quartet
Label: UMVD Labels
Category: Music
List Price: $16.98
Buy New: $10.12
You Save: $6.86 (40%)
New (29) Used (8) from $10.12
Rating:  27 reviews
Sales Rank: 5100
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.7 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 000090802
UPC: 028947449522
EAN: 0028947449522
ASIN: B00008O8B3
Release Date: August 12, 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Contrapunctus I | | • | Contrapunctus II | | • | Contrapunctus III | | • | Contrapunctus IV | | • | Contrapunctus V | | • | Contrapunctus VI, a 4, in Stylo Francese | | • | Contrapunctus VII, a 4, per Augmentationem et Diminutionem | | • | Contrapunctus VIII, a 3 | | • | Contrapunctus IX, a 4, alla Duodecima | | • | Contrapunctus X, a 4, alla Decima | | • | Contrapunctus XI, a 4 | | • | Canon per Augmentationem in Contrario Motu (14a*) | | • | Contrapunctus XII, a 4. Rectus | | • | Contrapunctus XII, a 4. Inversus | | • | Canon alla Ottava (15) | | • | Canon alla Decima in Contrapuncto alla Terza (16) | | • | Canon alla Duodecima in Contrapuncto alla Quinta (17) | | • | Contrapunctus XIII, a3. Rectus | | • | Contrapunctus XIII, a3. Inversus | | • | Canon per Augmentationem in Contrario Motu (14) | | • | Contrapunctus XIV (18) (Fragment of quadruple fugue) | | • | Chorale: "Vor deinen Thron tret ich hiermit" ("Wenn wir in hoechsten Noeten sein") BWV 668a (19) |
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| Customer Reviews: Read 22 more reviews...
 Jet Age Fugues August 13, 2008
Paul D. (Long Island, NY)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
The Emerson Quartet are the last word is modern, slick string quartet groups. Their extremely streamlined sound works very well sometimes, othertimes not. Their recording are usually worth a listen, and usually rank high with the Gramophone, Penguin & BBC critics, but I often find I enjoy other quartets more in given works, and have often traded in for different versions. Too often, they're just too slick. In this case, that slickness works in just the right way.
My other string quartet version is a magnificent one by The Juilliard Quartet, their approach being completely different from the present set. The Juilliard perform this work, solemnly, deeply, and slowly, as if played in a cloister, or the medieval room at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. It seems as if they've tried to make their quartet have the aural identity of a combo of viols (which is another good choice for this work, see the album by Fretwork, or parts of Jordi Savall's conception). If you're in the right frame of mind, and see this work as primarily a communion with the higher power, or a last throwback to the days of Sainte Columbe and Marin Marais, it would be hard to top this. I think one of this quartets best records.
In comparison, The Emersons provide a soundtrack for an art deco streamlined railway journey...their tempos are consistantly faster, with more sprite in their steps. The work certainly is EASIER to listen to this way, especially complete in one sitting. Their blend is smooth, they play wonderfully, but do lack the gravitas brought to the room by The Juilliards, or The Delme Quartet on Hyperion (in an edition prepared by Robert Simpson). But since this is a rather difficult work, and repetitive, The speed of the group gets to the point of each matter, choosing not to dwell on man's place in the universe, but to present a great piece of music for all to ENJOY! I would ultimately offer The Emersons as a first choice for newcomers to the work (although an orchestral transcription, by say Nevill Marriner & ASMF, might be the best intro, since the reputation of this, Bach's last work, is daunting), and to be listened to before getting to The Juilliards (recorded in 1987, released in '92 on cd). But both records are really excellent!
My favourite piece of classical music (so far) July 28, 2008
Mitch
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Bach: The Art of Fugue I know very little about classical music (unlike other reviewers who have posted about this recording). I cannot compare skill of conductors, or the various pros and cons of the different renditions of one piece of music.
I can, however, tell you that this is a fantastic piece of music! I'm very glad I decided to investigate classical music; and Bach in particular. He is now my favourite composer.
About this piece, though. It is restrained, beautiful and very elegant. There is nothing bad I can say about this particular interpretation; the choice of instruments and arrangement was fantastic. I have heard this fugue performed with piano, but I'd definitely prefer the varied and multi-dimensional texture of the strings. There is so much depth, it is achingly beautiful. I should add that when I bought this, I did not even know what a fugue was. Don't hold that against me! I have since done some research.
Anyhow, this is wonderful. If you are particularly knowledgeable about classical music, I think you will like this. If you are not, I think you will still like it as much as I do. It is a bittersweet masterpiece.
When it's good... Say so. July 5, 2008
music listener (Western US)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I've been critical of these guys before so I feel it's only fair to say this is a great recording. I have a number of Emerson String Quartet CD's and hardly listen to them as I think their playing often lacks soul and they can sound like they're competing with each other. For Bach's 'Art of Fuge' this is the one I come back to. The recording is near perfect - you can differentiate each instrument and (in my opinion) it's the best the E.S.Q. has ever sounded.
Very, Very good! June 19, 2008
Maria S. G. Santos (BRA)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Emerson Quartet did an excelent job! Don't give too much important of the words. Just listen this record and get your own opinion.
My opinion is: Very, Very good!
Superb June 7, 2008
Dermot Elworthy (Florida , United States)
The number of reviews given here makes another from me superfluous but I should like to take issue with David Bryson's acerbic judgment on the ending of the work.
Essentially, the Art of Fugue is a cerebral exercise which can be produced on most keyboards or combination of instruments. On the other hand, it's workings can be fully realised from the score without recourse to any instruments at all. Generally speaking, I am in accord with Mr Bryson regarding "emotion" - it has no place in the consideration of this work. Nevertheless, in this particular instance I feel an exception is required in respect of the ending (although it does not concern the music, per se).
I am not a particular fan of this quartet but having enjoyed this disc for several years, I consider that the Emersons play the AoF to perfection on this really excellent DG recording. Bach did not expire across the table during the writing of Contrapunctus XIV but their breaking off to leave it in its unfinished state with the BACH motif seemingly floating in some ghostly finality, to my mind at least, is musically acceptable in an historical sense, emotionally poignant and a thoroughly effective device. Perhaps I might feel differently if I was convinced of the rightness of any of the alternative endings subsequently put forward by others. For me, this version is just fine and I think the empty chairs in the cover photo is a clever allusion - assuming that it is . . .
However, I do agree with Bryson's views of the liner notes; these are unhelpfully pretentious.
Otherwise, this is a first class production; the un-coloured timbre evidently characteristic of the modern instruments used in this recording seems most appropriate.
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