J. S. Bach: 6-part Ricercar from the "Musical Offering" BWV 1079

On Oct. 25 and 26, 2007, the Symphony Orchestra of the Freiburg Musikhochschule, under the direction of Prof. Scott Sandmeier presented a program of transcriptions of works by J. S. Bach. Prof. Sandmeier and I jointly developed a program concept that in part juxtaposed Bach's original version of a work with its transcribed version. So, for example, the 6-part Ricercar from the "Musical Offering" first on solo harpsichord, then in the transcription for orchestra by Anton Webern. Here the harpsichord version of the Ricercar à 6 from the Oct. 26 performance.

Instrument after P. Taskin (Paris, 1769) by Keith Hill (1998)

Improvisation on the Bass of the Goldberg Variations

This recording is now 15 years old, and ought to be in the archives, but the file happened to be available while I was experimenting to get this blog online. I performed this improvisation in May 1993 as part of my inaugural recital for my position as Professor of Historical Keyboards at the Musikhochschule Freiburg. The improvisation, together with the complete 1993 live performance of J. S. Bach's Goldberg Variations BWV 988 is available from Music & Arts records.
Harpsichord: Keith Hill 1993 after Pascal Taskin (Paris, 1769)