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Japanese keyboard instrument performer, Junsei Watanabe, presents the highly anticipated first recording of 《The Art of Fugue》! It includes both the Berlin Manuscript score handwritten by Bach around 1742 and the so-called "Completion Version" (first edition score) published after Bach's death (1751 or 1752). A thorough explanation is also provided on the performance order derived from Bach research and Watanabe's own considerations, as well as on the handling of the "Unfinished Fugue," making it a must-read.

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750): DIE KUNST DER FUGE, BWV1080
J.S. Bach: The Art of Fugue

Disc I:
[1] Contrapunctus 1 (Simple fugue in the main theme's original form)
Contrapunctus 1 (BWV1080/1)
[2] Contrapunctus 4 (Simple fugue in the inversion of the main theme)
Contrapunctus 4 (BWV1080/4)
[3] Contrapunctus 2 (Simple fugue in the main theme's original form)
Contrapunctus 2 (BWV1080/2)
[4] Contrapunctus 3 (Simple fugue in the inversion of the main theme)
Contrapunctus 3 (BWV1080/3)
[5] Contrapunctus 5 (Inversion fugue)
Contrapunctus 5 (BWV1080/5)
[6] Contrapunctus 6 (Inversion fugue with shortened main theme, French style)
Contrapunctus 6 in Stylo Francese (BWV1080/6)
[7] Contrapunctus 7 (Inversion fugue with augmentation and diminution)
Contrapunctus 7 per Augmentationem et Diminutionem (BWV1080/7)
[8] Contrapunctus 9 (Double fugue using 12th interval transposition counterpoint)
Contrapunctus 9 a 4 alla Duocecima (BWV1080/9)
[9] Contrapunctus 10 (Double fugue using 10th interval transposition counterpoint)
Contrapunctus 10 a 4 alla Decima (BWV1080/10)
[10] Contrapunctus 8 (Triple fugue for 3 voices)
Contrapunctus 8 a 3 (BWV1080/8)
[11] Contrapunctus 11 (Triple fugue for 4 voices)
Contrapunctus 11 a 4 (BWV1080/11)
--Appendix I--
[12] Autograph manuscript of Fugue 1 = Early draft of Contrapunctus 1
Fuga 1 = Autograph manuscript of “Contrapunctus 1"
[13] Autograph manuscript of Fugue 2 = Early draft of Contrapunctus 3
Fuga 2 = Autograph manuscript of “Contrapunctus 3"
[14] Autograph manuscript of Fugue 3 = Early draft of Contrapunctus 2
Fuga 3 = Autograph manuscript of “Contrapunctus 2"
[15] Autograph manuscript of Fugue 6 = Early draft of Contrapunctus 10
Fuga 6 = Autograph manuscript of “Contrapunctus 10"
[16] Autograph manuscript of Canon 1 = Early draft of Canon 2 (octave canon)
Canon in Hypodiapason = Autograph manuscript of “Canon alla ottava"
[17] Autograph manuscript of Canon 2 = Early draft of Canon 1 (expanded inversion canon)
Canon in Hypodiatesseron al roverscio e per augmentationem, perpetuus = Autograph manuscript of “Canon per Augmentationem in Contrario Motu"

Disc II:
[1] Canon 2 (octave canon)
Canon alla ottava (BWV1080/15)
[2] Canon 3 (10th interval canon using third technique)
Canon alla Decima in Contrapunto alla Terza (BWV1080/16)
[3] Canon 4 (12th interval canon using fifth technique)
Canon alla Duodecima in Contrapunto alla Quinta (BWV1080/17)
[4] Canon 1 (expanded inversion canon)
Canon per Augmentationem in Contrario Motu (BWV1080/14)
[5] Contrapunctus 12a (4-voice mirror fugue in the main theme's original form)*
Contrapunctus inversus 12, Forma recta (BWV1080/12-1)
[6] Contrapunctus 12b (4-voice mirror fugue in the inversion of the main theme)*
Contrapunctus inversus 12, Forma inversa (BWV1080/12-2)
[7] Contrapunctus 13b (3-voice mirror fugue in the inversion of the main theme)*
Contrapunctus inversus 13, Forma inversa (BWV1080/13-1)
[8] Contrapunctus 13a (3-voice mirror fugue in the main theme's original form)*
Contrapunctus inversus 13, Forma recta (BWV1080/13-2)
[9] Mirror fugue for two harpsichords, Contrapunctus 13b (alternative version)*
Fuga inversa a 2 Clavicembali, Forma inversa (BWV1080/18-1)
[10] Mirror fugue for two harpsichords, Contrapunctus 13a (alternative version)*
Fuga inversa a 2 Clavicembali, Forma recta (BWV1080/18-2)
--Appendix II--
[11] Fugue with three subjects (unfinished)
Fuga a 3 Soggetti [Fragment] (BWV1080/19)

Yoshio Watanabe (Harpsichord)
Akiko Sakikawa (Harpsichord II)*

Media reviews and others

Japanese keyboard performer, Junsei Watanabe, presents the highly anticipated first recording of 《The Art of Fugue》! It includes both the Berlin Manuscript score handwritten by Bach around 1742 and the so-called "Completion Version" (first edition score) published after Bach's death (1751 or 1752). It also features a detailed explanation on the performance order derived from Bach research and Watanabe's own insights, as well as on the treatment of the "Unfinished Fugue," making it a must-read. (C)RS

About the artist

Junsei Watanabe (Harpsichord)

Active as a harpsichord, clavichord, and fortepiano performer, conductor, and scholar. Has written papers and edited scores. Awarded the Suntory Music Award in 2010. Born in Kamakura in 1950. Graduated from Hitotsubashi University Faculty of Sociology. Studied at the Amsterdam Conservatory, earning a Soloist Diploma and Premiers Dux. Studied harpsichord under Mitsuo Kobayashi and Gustav Leonhardt. Has performed with many renowned European and American artists including Frans Bruggen, Anner Bylsma, John Elwes, and Max van Egmond. In 2017 and November 2019, performed successfully with Barthold Kuijken on the baroque flute. In January 2019, his conducting of Monteverdi's opera 《Poppea's Coronation》 at Izumi Hall in Osaka received the Mitsubishi UFJ Trust Music Award Encouragement Prize.

He has released numerous CDs through Sony, Soami Planning, Kojima Recordings, and Cecil Records. His recordings 《Mozart: Fortepiano Duo》 [with Akiko Sakikawa] (Kojima Recordings, 2006) and 《Frescobaldi/Froberger: Harpsichord Works Collection》 (Kojima Recordings, 2016) received the Record Academy Award. His book 《Harpsichord & Fortepiano》 (Tokyo Shoseki, 3rd edition 2009) is a comprehensive and influential study on early keyboard instruments. His 2016 publication 《Bach, Early Music, Cello ~ Max van Egmond Speaks~》 (Artes Publishing, 2016) was also highly praised in newspapers and magazines. He has edited scores published by Ohtsuki Music, including 《Fantasia and Sonata K.475+457》 (1995) and 《Sonata with Turkish March》 (2016), both based on Bach's autograph manuscripts. Currently, he is preparing a new edition of Bach's 《Six Partitas》 (Music Friends Publishing).

Akiko Sakikawa (Harpsichord)

Graduated from Toho Gakuen School of Music, Piano Department. Studied piano under Motonari Iguchi and Masako Kanematsu. Studied harpsichord with Charles Koehne, Junsei Watanabe, and Noel Spies at the Paris Conservatory of Early Music, and fortepiano with Patrick Cohen. Has performed extensively with foreign artists. Currently active in solo and chamber music performances. Her solo CDs include 《Mozart's Light and Shadow》 (Cecil Records), 《Music Book for Anna Magdalena Bach》, and 《Portrait of Jean-Philippe Rameau》 (ALM Records).