Hvad er på

The Musical Offering

About

The Musical Offering (BWV 1079) is a collection of canons, ricercars and a trio sonata by Johann Sebastian Bach, all derived from a theme given to him by Frederick the Great during Bach's visit to Potsdam on 7 May 1747. Published in September 1747, it stands as one of the most sophisticated demonstrations of contrapuntal craft in the Baroque repertoire. The six-voice Ricercar a 6 has been singled out by musicologist Charles Rosen as one of the most significant compositions in the history of Western music.

1747
Year of publication
16
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

Upcoming · 1

Where they play · 1

Garnisonskirken

← Back to home