The Dutch reed quintet Calefax celebrates 35 years of adventurous and versatile musicianship with a collection of Musical Offerings from Johann Sebastian Bach, arranged by the ensemble's saxophonist Raaf Hekkema. Arthur Klaassens joins the ensemble on a lupophone and English horn for Musikalisches Opfer, the main course of this programme, as well as for the 14 Canons, BWV 1087, creating a unique blend of wind instruments. The album concludes with Bach's Canonic Variations on Vom Himmel hoch, BWV 769, a piece full of allusions to Christmas-related Bach pieces, including references to his Christmas Oratorio. Bach's Musical Offerings is Calefax' third PENTATONE release, after the well-received Dido & Aeneazz (2019), a virtuosic and eclectic recomposition of Purcell's famous opera performed with trumpetist Eric Vloeimans, as well as Hidden Gems (2018), showcasing the quintet's versatility with pieces ranging from Corelli and Satie to Nina Simone.

Tracklist:

Sonata Sopr'il Soggetto Reale: I. Largo (After J.S. Bach's Bwv 1079)
Regis Issu Cantio Et Reliqua Canonica Arte Resoluta: Ricercar À 3 (After J.S. Bach's Bwv 1079)
Sonata Sopr'il Soggetto Reale: II. Allegro (After J.S. Bach's Bwv 1079)
Thematis Regii Elaborationes Canonicae: Thematis Regii Elaborationes Canonicae I (After J.S. Bach's Bwv 1079)
Sonata Sopr'il Soggetto Reale: III. Andante (After J.S. Bach's Bwv 1079)
Thematis Regii Elaborationes Canonicae: Thematis Regii Elaborationes Canonicae II (After J.S. Bach's Bwv 1079)
Sonata Sopr'il Soggetto Reale: IV. Allegro (After J.S. Bach's Bwv 1079)
Thematis Regii Elaborationes Canonicae: Thematis Regii Elaborationes Canonicae III (After J.S. Bach's Bwv 1079)
Regis Issu Cantio Et Reliqua Canonica Arte Resoluta: Ricercar À 6 (After J.S. Bach's Bwv 1079)
14 Canons (After J.S. Bach's Bwv 1087)
Vom Himmel Hoch, Da Komm Ich Her (After J.S. Bach's Bwv 769): Var. 1, In Canone All'ottava
Vom Himmel Hoch, Da Komm Ich Her (After J.S. Bach's Bwv 769): Var. 2, Alio Modo In Canone Alla Quinta
Vom Himmel Hoch, Da Komm Ich Her (After J.S. Bach's Bwv 769): Var. 3, In Canone Alla Settima
Vom Himmel Hoch, Da Komm Ich Her (After J.S. Bach's Bwv 769): Var. 4, In Canone All'ottava Per Augmentationem
Vom Himmel Hoch, Da Komm Ich Her (After J.S. Bach's Bwv 769): Var. 5, L'altra Sorte Del Canone Al Rovescio

UPC: 827949084065
Label: Pentatone
Release Date: 10.9.20
Format: CD

J Bach S / Reed - Bach's Musical Offerings (CD)