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Bach: Die Kunst der Fuge [Hybrid SACD]
Johann Sebastian Bach
Bach: Die Kunst der Fuge [Hybrid SACD]
Genre: Classical
 
Don't expect jazzed-up Bach here. Although the New Century Saxophone Quartet swings in its own way, it's a thoroughly classical ensemble. The group's rationale for playing Bach is eloquently described in the microtype prog...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Johann Sebastian Bach
Title: Bach: Die Kunst der Fuge [Hybrid SACD]
Members Wishing: 2
Total Copies: 0
Label: Channel Classics Nl
Release Date: 5/11/2004
Album Type: Hybrid SACD - DSD, Import
Genre: Classical
Styles: Chamber Music, Forms & Genres, Improvisation, Historical Periods, Baroque (c.1600-1750), Classical (c.1770-1830)
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 723385202042

Synopsis

Amazon.com
Don't expect jazzed-up Bach here. Although the New Century Saxophone Quartet swings in its own way, it's a thoroughly classical ensemble. The group's rationale for playing Bach is eloquently described in the microtype program notes, but you'll hear it for yourself on the CD. Bach never heard a saxophone, but the clarity, virtuosity, and restrained expressivity of this performance would probably have pleased him greatly. (Bach never specified his preference for instrumentation of this work.) Saxophones certainly aren't the only, or even the best, way to hear this music. But since it would benefit any music lover to hear "The Art of Fugue" as often as possible, this would be one excellent choice among several versions worth owning--and if you love the sound of saxophones, that's an added incentive, even though two pieces had to be omitted due to time limitions. This hybrid-SACD disc sounds just fine on a standard player, vividly recreating the group's live performance sound. --Leslie Gerber
 

CD Reviews

Baritone saxophone's
Pure Francis | 02/01/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)

"The late jazz great Paul Desmond likened his alto saxophone sound to a dry martini. As I savored the New Century Saxophone Quartet's subtle timbre mixtures and easily undulating tempo choices throughout The Art of Fugue, I duly passed out the cocktail glasses! Reed pops and clicks hold no place in the smooth ensemble blend, while note attacks and dynamics seemingly emerge from stringed instruments caressed with bows of different shapes and sizes.

Good as this disc sounds in the standard two-channel configuration, SACD 5.0 Multi-channel offers greater spatial perspective between the four players. In all, this release gives total joy from start to finish."