Orchestral Transcriptions By Respighi & Elgar

Respighi had always been committed to the art of transcription, arranging Bach’s Violin Sonata in E minor in 1908-09 with acute perception. This was followed during 1929 and 1930 by even greater and more resplendent Bach settings. The powerful sense of orchestral colour acquired during his training under Rimsky-Korsakov is heard to bold yet subtle effect in the Three Chorale Preludes. The Prelude and Fugue in D major is even more gloriously lavish, drawing on the full resources of the modern symphony orchestra, as does the brilliantly realised Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor. Edward Elgar’s transcription is a work of sustained grandeur and rich musical intensity.

Respighi’s most famous transcriptions are probably still those of the ancient airs and dances, first published in 1917, but his Bach transcriptions are hardly less impressive. These richly coloured works rescore and reclothe Bach for Respighi’s time – 1929-30 – and do so brilliantly. They are exciting creations in their own terms, utilising every facet of a modern symphony orchestra, and so too is Elgar’s sole example.

Violin Sonata in E minor, BWV1023 - orch. Respighi
 W/Ilkka Talvi (violin)

Prelude & Fugue in D major, BWV532 - orch. Respighi
Passacaglia & Fugue in C minor, BWV582 - orch. Respighi
Fantasia & Fugue in C minor, BWV537 - orch. Elgar
Chorale Prelude BWV659 'Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland' - orch. Respighi
Chorale Prelude BWV648 'Meine Seele erhebt den Herren' - orch. Respighi
Chorale Prelude BWV645 'Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme' - orch. Respighi

"This is a delightful hour of listening, and for those of you who are weary of “historically-informed” Bach, this could be your disc of the year!...This might not be “authentic” Bach, but it is magnificent Bach."
MusicWeb International - June 2012