Bach's final Fugue, completed by Kimiko Ishizaka (BWV 1080, Art of the Fugue)

This is Contrapunctus 14 from J.S. Bach's "Kunst der Fuge". The video was made by Stephen Malinowski, and it shows a deep understanding and love of the music. I cherish this visualization and am forever grateful to Stephen for the enormous contribution he has made to bringing the structure's of Bach's music to life on YouTube.

Bach died before completing this fugue. Kimiko Ishizaska composed this completion for her own enjoyment, and for the purpose of making this recording. If others wish to study and perform the completion, the sheet music is available, along with the complete Art of the Fugue recording, on her website, with a Creative Commons license.

The moment when Bach's composition ends and Kimiko Ishizaka's begins is represented quite nicely by Stephen Malinowski's visualization. Up until that point, all of the notes are visible. They are grey until it is their time to get played, and then they turn a color based on the voice. But when Kimiko's work is approaching, you notice that the upcoming notes are not visible! They're the surprise, the unknown.

released October 4, 2017

Kimiko Ishizaka, piano
Anne-Marie Sylvestre, audio engineer, editing, mastering
@robertdouglass, Executive Producer, photography
Gerd Finkenstein, piano technician
Album Cover by NASK 041
Teldex Studio
Bösendorfer Vienna Concert 280
license