Search - Bach, Los Angeles Saxaphone Quartet :: Art of the Fugue

Art of the Fugue for the Adventurous

11/23/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a wonderful disc. The interpretation is dynamic and rhythmically supple. The quartet plays with a warm, dark sound that resembles a pipe organ and each musician really concentrates on bringing out the inner lines of the music. After listening to this recording, it's hard to believe that musicians ever considered this piece to be simply an academic exercise. It's also nice to see the quartet take on the whole work. Other saxophone quartets have recorded excerpts of the piece (although I believe the Berlin Quartet may have a complete version out) and it is useful to hear the architecture of the entire work. The San Francisco Saxophone Quartet has recorded portions of the piece and their quartet also has a beautiful sound but their interpretation is relatively static by comparison. This CD is a must have for a serious collector of classical saxophone recordings."

Once it was an LP!

J.Stoffels | Den Haag Netherlands | 09/19/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"About twenty years ago I discovered this CD in a library. To me the saxophone sound in combination with Bach's fugues was a revelation. I had actually lost hope of ever finding this marvellous recording again, but here it is smiling at me, even permitting me to hear a bit of it. If you don't like Bach, try it anyway!"

Perpetually Listenable

Ginger O. | Berkeley, CA USA | 04/17/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first heard this performed live by the LA Sax Quartet and was transfixed. It is a thoroughly enjoyable take on Art of the Fugue. If you've heard Art of the Fugue hundreds of times before, you'll get a fresh perspective with this version. If you've never it, and you dig the saxaphone, this CD introduces you to a great piece of music. This is a CD to listen to again and again."