This week’s theme about musical transcriptions refers to taking a composition and changing its instrumentation. For example, transforming a piano piece into an orchestral work or adapting a string quartet into a wind quintet. We will start with Johann Sebastian Bach’s discovery of the works of Antonio Vivaldi while exploring the library at the court of Leopold, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen. Bill will present Vivaldi’s “Concerto for Four Violins,” followed by Bach’s transcription of this piece for four harpsichords. Additionally, we will hear transcriptions of Bach’s organ works by Edward Elgar, John Barbirolli, and Otto Klemperer. This week concludes with Maurice Ravel’s well-known, orchestral transcription of Modest Mussorgsky’s piano work “Pictures at an Exhibition” performed by the Berlin Philharmonic.
The Art of the Transcription
Playlist
Episode 1
Vivaldi, Antonio: Concerto for 4 Violins & Cello in B Minor,
Op. 3 No. 10, RV 580: I. Allegro (Live)
Lautten Compagney
Vivaldi: Concerto for 4 Violins & Cello in B Minor, Op. 3 No. 10, RV 580 (Live)
K&K KuK391
3:39
Bach, Johann Sebastian: Concerto In A Minor, Bwv 1065
For Four Harpsichords, Strings and Basso Continuo: Allegro
Christoph Anselm Noll, Cologne Chamber Orchestra, Gerald Hambitzer, Helmut Müller-Brühl, Robert Hill & Robert Shaw
Harpsichord Concertos III (Concertos For Two And Four Harpsichords)
Naxos 8.554606
3:54
Bach, JS: Vikingur Olafsson – 30 – 30 BACH Cembalo Concerto in D minor BWV 974
1. Andante, 2. Adagio, 3. Presto
Vikingur Olafsson, Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach – Víkingur Ólafsson
DG 4835022
9:49
Bach, JS: Vikingur Olafsson – 30 – 30 BACH Cembalo Concerto in D minor BWV 974
2. Adagio (excerpt)
Vikingur Olafsson, Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach – Víkingur Ólafsson
DG 4835022
1:02
Bach, JS: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 –
Fugue #4 In C Sharp Minor, BWV 873
Emerson Quartet
Fugues
DG 477 7458
4:22
Bach, JS/Arr. H. Schmidt-Isserstedt: Italian Concerto in F Major, BWV 971 (Arr. H. Schmidt- Isserstedt for Orchestra) II. Andante, III. Pesto
Berliner Philharmoniker/Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt
J.S. Bach Great Orchestral Transcriptions
Biddulph BDF ED 83069 70
8:54
Bach/Schoenberg: Prelude & Fugue in E-Flat Major,
BWV 552 “St. Anne” (Arr. A. Schoenberg for Orchestra)
Berliner Philharmoniker/Erich Kleiber
J.S. Bach Great Orchestral Transcriptions
Biddulph BDF ED 83069 70
15:56
Episode 2
Bach, JS/Ottorino Respighi: Passacaglia in C Minor, P. 159
NBC Symphony Orchestra; Arturo Toscanini
J.S. Bach Great Orchestral Transcriptions
Biddulph BDF ED 83069 70
12:52
Bach, JS/Ottorino Respighi: Passacaglia in C Minor, P. 159
NBC Symphony Orchestra; Arturo Toscanini
J.S. Bach Great Orchestral Transcriptions
Biddulph BDF ED 83069 70
0:31
Bach, JS/Stokowsky: Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor BWV582: (Excerpt)
Symphonica Orchestra/ Leopold Stokowski
Bach by Stokowski
EMI 0957132
1:38
Bach, JS/Webern: Musical Offering, BWV 1079 – Fuga: Ricercata
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Pierre Boulez
Boulez conducts Webern II
DG 4470992
7:18
Bach, JS/John Barbirolli: Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd,
BWV 208 “Hunting Cantata” (Arr. J. Barbirolli for Orchestra)
New York Philharmonic/ Sir John Barbirolli
J.S. Bach Great Orchestral Transcriptions
Biddulph BDF ED 83069 70
4:19
Bach, JS: 1 Bach/ Brandenburg Concerto #1 In F, BWV 1046 – 1. [Allegro]-05
Academy of Ancient Music/Hogwood
Brandenberg Concerti
L’Oiseau-Lyre – PDZTT 1448
1:56
Bach JS/Elgar, Edward: Fantasia & Fugue in C Minor, Op. 86 (After Bach’s BWV 537)
Royal Albert Hall Orchestra/Sir Edward Elgar
J.S. Bach Great Orchestral Transcriptions
Biddulph BDF ED 83069 70
7:33
Bach, JS: Keyboard Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, BWV 1052: I. Allegro
New York Philharmonic/Alan Gilbert & Emanuel Ax
J.S. Bach, Schoenberg, Mozart
New York Philharmonic NYP201301104
8:02
Bach, JS/ Klemperer: Bist du bei mir, BWV 508 (Arr. O. Klemperer for Orchestra)
Paris Pro Musica Orchestra/Otto Klemperer
JS Bach: Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 1-6
Archiphon ARC WU17273
3:13
Episode 3
Rachmaninov, Sergei/Respighi: Cinq Études Tableaux – 2. La Foire, Op. 33/7
Jesús Lopez- Cobos: Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
Symphony No.2 Vocalise
Telarc 80543
1:58
Respighi, Ottorino: Trittico Botticelliano – La Primavera
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra/ Andrew Schenck
Trittico Botticelliano / The Birds / Ancient Airs & Dances
Stradivari Classics SCD 8013
5:51
Respighi, Ottorino/after, Pasquini, Gallot, Rameau): The Birds – Prelude; The Dove; “La Gallina”, The Hen; “L’usignolo”, The Nightingale; The Cuckoo
Academy Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
The Birds
EMI EAC 50159
18:58
Brahms, Johannes: Piano Quartet #1 In G Minor, Op. 25 – 4. Rondo Alla Zingarese
Martha Argerich, piano; Gidon Kremer, violin; Yuri Bashmet, viola; Mischa Maisky, cello
Brahms: Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25, etc.
DG E4637002
8:17
Brahms, Johannes: Piano Quartet #1 In G Minor, Op. 25 – 4. Rondo Alla Zingarese
Martha Argerich, piano; Gidon Kremer, violin; Yuri Bashmet, viola; Mischa Maisky, cello
Brahms: Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25, etc.
DG E4637002
0:20
Brahms, Johannes: Piano Quartet No. 1 in G Minor: IV. Rondo alla Zingarese
Berlin Philharmonic/Sir Simon Rattle
Piano Quartet No. 1 / Accompanying Music To A Film Scene / Chamber Symphony No. 1
EMI Classics 50999 4 57815
9:00
Rimsky-Korsakov, Nikolay (arr. F. Kreisler): Fantasia on Two Russian Themes, Op. 33
Josef Gingold & Charles H. Webb
The Art of Josef Gingold
Music and Arts Programs of America MUA286
5:11
Episode 4
Stravinsky, Igor: The Fairy’s Kiss: Divertimento: Sinfonia,
Danses Suisses, Scherzo, Pas de Deux
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Fritz Reiner
Mysterious Mountain / Divertimento (From The Fairy’s Kiss)
RCA Victor LSC 2251
23:55
Stravinsky, Igor: Pulcinella, Ballet Suite: I. Sinfonia, II. Serenata, III. Scherzino – Allegretto – Andantino, IV. Tarantella, V. Toccata, VI. Gavotta con due variazioni
Philharmonia Orchestra/Otto Klemperer
Symphony In Three Movements • Pulcinella Suite
Columbia SAX 2588
20:47
Stravinsky, Igor: Pulcinella, Ballet Suite: VII. Vivo, VIII. Minuetto, IX. Finale
Philharmonia Orchestra/Otto Klemperer
Symphony In Three Movements • Pulcinella Suite
Columbia SAX 2588
4:28
Rimski-Korsakov, Nikolay (Arr. L. Stokowski for Orchestra): Tale of Tsar Saltan, Op. 57:
Flight of the Bumblebee
All-American Youth Orchestra/Leopold Stokowski
Leopold Stokowski
Music & Arts MACD 1287
1:23
Episode 5
Ravel, Maurice: Ma mère l’Oye (Mother Goose Suite) Tableau II:
12 Tableau Iii/ Les Entretiens De La Belle Et De La Bete-05
St. Paul Chamber Orchestra/Hugh Wolff
Ma Mère L’oye / Pavane Pour Une Infante Défunte / Le Tombeau De Couperin
Teldec 74006-2
1:29
Ravel, Maurice: Ma mère l’Oye (Mother Goose Suite) Tableau II: Pavane De La Belle Au Bois Dormant; Les Entretiens De La Belle Et De La Bête; Tableau V: Laideronnette, Impératrice Des Pagodes; Apothéose: Le Jardin Féerique
St. Paul Chamber Orchestra/Hugh Wolff
Ma Mère L’oye / Pavane Pour Une Infante Défunte / Le Tombeau De Couperin
Teldec 74006-2
14:27
Ravel, Maurice: Le Tombeau de Couperin: I. Prélude: Vif; II. Forlane: Allegretto; III. Menuet: Allegro Moderato” IV. Rigaudon: Assez Vif
St. Paul Chamber Orchestra/Hugh Wolff
Ma Mère L’oye / Pavane Pour Une Infante Défunte / Le Tombeau De Couperin
Teldec 74006-2
16:09
Ravel, Maurice: Le Tombeau de Couperin: III. Menuet (excerpt)
London Symphony Orchestra/Claudio Abbado
Complete Orchestral Works
DG 469 354 2
0:52
Ravel, Maurice: Alborada del Gracioso
Leon Fleisher
Concerto In D For The Left Hand / Alborada Del Gracioso; Rapsodie Espagnole
Vanguard 25014
5:48
Ravel, Maurice: Albarado Del Gracioso for orchestra
Orchestre Theatre Des Champs-Elysees/Pedro de Freitas Branco
La Valse / Alborada Del Gracioso / Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte
London Ducretet Thomson EL 93008
7:24
Mussorgsky, Modest (Orchestrated by Maurice Ravel):
Pictures at an Exhibition: Great Gate of Kiev
Berlin Philharmonic/Herbert von Karajan
Ravel: Boléro · Debussy: La Mer · Mussorgsky/Ravel: Tableaux D’une Exposition
DG 447 426
6:53
