Musical Offering BWV 1079

[Mandryka]

It's not Japanese language.

Taiwanese. My bad.

[Mandryka]

I remember having read someone (probably line notes to a CD) who proposed that Bach's use of the word Opfer carries a double meaning, the other meaning being victim, victim to king Frederick's capriciousness.

Or victim to the caprice of fate. Look at this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWtQbbstsOg&ab_channel=AlgyIng

[prémont]

First impressions are that this is a particularly sensual opfer. The harpsichordist, Philippe Grosvard, gives luxurious renditions of the two ricercars  - more luxe, calm et volupté than expected! The polar opposite of Hantai!

The trio sonata is hedonistic, I can imagine it being played in the souper du roi.

I agree that this is an interesting and rather sensual interpretation, the sensuality caused by a rather pointed articulation and a more frequent use of vibrato than usual nowadays. I cherish Grisvard for the expressive Ricercare a 3 and for playing the Ricercare a 6 with 2x8' without changing stops any time during the piece. My only quibble is that I find that the two slow movements of the triosonata are played too fast and noncommittal.

[prémont]

Or victim to the caprice of fate. Look at this.

Maybe, maybe not.

[Mandryka]

Released at the end of 2023 but I certainly missed it.

https://hitasura-productions.com/product-category/all/hitasura-exclusive-edition/

[prémont]

Released at the end of 2023 but I certainly missed it.

https://hitasura-productions.com/product-category/all/hitasura-exclusive-edition/

A decent interpretation, but I don't think that my high expectations to this ensemble (and particularly to Haas) were fully met.

[Mandryka]

A decent interpretation, but I don't think that my high expectations to this ensemble (and particularly to Haas) were fully met.

Yes I liked the ensemble but, on first listen, not so much Haas in the solo pieces,  And I too had high expectations of him. I've not heard the sonata yet.

[Anooj]

Any opinions on this recording?

[Mandryka]

Any opinions on this recording?

Drop dead gorgeous trio sonata. Somehow you can sense that they all love the music. I like the bright modern organ in the Ricercar à 6, and I don't have a problem with the Bornefeld arrangement.

https://organindex.de/index.php?title=Schorndorf,_Stadtkirche_(Chororgel)

[Mandryka]

Here's the booklet for the new release of Cindy Castello playing the whole thing as organ solo. Serious, sober.

https://static.qobuz.com/goodies/07/000179970.pdf

[prémont]

Here's the booklet for the new release of Cindy Castello playing the whole thing as organ solo. Serious, sober.

Yes, to a depressing degree - I think.

[prémont]

Drop dead gorgeous trio sonata. Somehow you can sense that they all love the music. I like the bright modern organ in the Ricercar à 6, and I don't have a problem with the Bornefeld arrangement.

https://organindex.de/index.php?title=Schorndorf,_Stadtkirche_(Chororgel)

Yes, a somewhat unusual but very well played version.

[Mandryka]

By the way, @prémont I see that Google translates Musikalisches Opfer as Musical Sacrifice.

@Jo498 There's a difference in English between Offering and Sacrifice. I think that a sacrifice necessarily involves the destruction of the gift.  Is there a similar distinction in German?

[prémont]

By the way, @prémont I see that Google translates Musikalisches Opfer as Musical Sacrifice.

@Jo498 There's a difference in English between Offering and Sacrifice. I think that a sacrifice necessarily involves the destruction of the gift.  Is there a similar distinction in German?

I think the translation "victim" includes the destruction of the offer, but "sacrifice" doesn't necessarily.

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/german-english/opfer