Bach. Busoni. BWV 659.

BWV 659

Bach. Busoni. BWV 659.
Photo by Mateusz Dobrowolski - Piano / Unsplash

While I have never been nuts about Bach played on the piano (long story), I believe an exception must be made for transcriptions such as this one, by Ferruccio Busoni, of BWV 659, played by Beatrice Berrut on a Bösendorfer Vienna Concert VC 280.

BWV 659, by J.S. Bach, transcribed by Ferruccio Busoni, performed by Beatrice Berrut
BWV 659, by J.S. Bach, transcribed by Ferruccio Busoni, performed by Beatrice Berrut

The piano heard in this recording has the usual eighty-eight keys, but another model, the Bösendorfer Model 290 Imperial, has  ninety-seven—all of them lower pitched than the lowest note on a standard piano. This model was was created at Busoni’s request when he realised that he needed more notes in order to accurately transcribe certain Bach organ works for piano!

You may also be interested in the original version of the work for organ:

BWV 659, by J.S. Bach, performed by Ton Koopman
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