Bach's Musical Testament: A Drama of Faith and Reason

Name: Bach's Musical Testament: A Drama of Faith and Reason
Start: 2026-11-18T19:30:00+01:00
End: 2026-11-18T22:30:00+01:00
Location: Garnisonskirken

Wed, 18 Nov 2026 · 19:30

Garnisonskirken, Copenhagen · 200 kr./stud. 150 kr. · ≈ 20–27 €

concert Classical date culture

Bach's Musical Testament: A Drama of Faith and Reason · Garnisonskirken, Copenhagen

Foto: garnisonskirken.dk

Bach's Musical Testament - drama of faith and reason: Wednesday 18 November 2026, 19:30, Garnisonskirken, Copenhagen. Tickets cost 200 kr./stud. 150 kr.

The Musical Offering is one of J.S. Bach's final works and is considered the old master's musical testament. In this work, he demonstrates polyphonic composition technique in its ultimate form - a final demonstration of the Baroque era's rule-based, Christian-founded worldview.

About the event: Bach's Musical Testament: A Drama of Faith and Reason

1747

composed

BWV 1079

catalog number

Good to know

Baroque music with cannons, fugues and trio sonatas by J.S. Bach
The work is written for chamber ensemble - typically flute, violin and continuo
The concert has a dramaturgical framework around the themes of faith and reason
Suitable for adults and music-interested young people
Check the organizer's website for exact playing time and any intermission
Buy tickets in good time - Bach concerts in Copenhagen are often sold out

About: The Musical Offering

Bach composed this contrapuntal masterwork in response to a challenge set by Frederick the Great in Potsdam in 1747 - a royal theme underpins every canon, ricercar and the trio sonata that make up the collection.

1747

Year of publication

Movements in the collection (Masaaki Suzuki recording, 2017)

What's new

2026
Tim Allhoff released in 2026 a new recording of The Musical Offering on Apple Music Classical.
2025
Capella Istropolitana released in 2025 a new complete recording of BWV 1079 with 16 movements.

Tracks

Ricercar a 6 (BWV 1079)Six-part fugue, considered the work's pinnacle and one of the most significant compositions in music history

Ricercar a 3 (BWV 1079)Three-part fugue, the first movement in the collection

Triosonate (BWV 1079)Four-movement trio sonata for flute, violin and continuo - the only sonata section in the collection

Canon perpetuus super Thema Regium (BWV 1079)Infinite canon over the royal theme

Bach's Musical Testament: A Drama of Faith and Reason

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