Tuesday, March 1st, 2011
I’m back from travelling to Kansas City, KS, and have been tryng to get back “in the groove” with new releases. I am posting two more CD transfers, this one devoted to Karl Ristenpart’s second recording of Bach’s “Die Kunst der Fuge” BWV 1080 (The Art of The Fugue). The following are the comments I posted on the Klassic Haus Restorations website with the CD:
KHCD-2011-025-2CD (STEREO) – J. S. Bach: Die Kunst der Fuge, BWV 1080 (The Art of The Fuge, orchestral realization by Marcel Bitsch and Claude Pascal) – Chamber Orchestra of The Saar/Karl Ristenpart – Karl Ristenpart recorded Die Kunst der Fuge with the Saar Chamber Orchestra twice, in stereo; the first on Octtober 29, 1963 for Erato which included Counterpoint 1 through7, and 12 through 16, arranged for chamber orchestra by Helmut Winschermann. The second recording, from which this transcription was derived, was recorded on June 16-19, 1966, by Club Français du Disque, and issued domestically on a Nonesuch 2-LP set. The orchestral realization was by Marcel Bitsch and Claude Pascal. Their version attempts not to “glorify” the work in an overblown 19th-century orchestration; rather, it renders the internal structure perceptible to the listener by choice of instruments. The result is clarity itself, and is beautifully played by members of the Chamber Orchestra of the Saar.
This transfer was a request from one of my many Klassic Haus followers (thanks to all of you!) I try to fulfill requests, finding the best sources available for the requested media, and carefully restore and transfer to CD. If anyone out there has a “wish list” of LPs or tapes they are trying to find, I am willing to search for them and transfer them to CD. Please contact me at info@klassichaus.us with any requests you may have.
Thanks for checking in! – Curt Timmons