The Musical Offering, BWV 1079

About this work

Only three lines are needed to fill the entire space of the Ricercar, BWV 1079. The royal theme passes from one voice to another, sometimes exposed and sometimes concealed within music already in motion. This keyboard score presents that single part of the Musical Offering.

Mark the beginning of each return of the theme, then choose fingering that does not break its line. Practise the upper and middle voices together, followed by the middle voice and bass: these two pairs reveal crossings and notes that a purely vertical reading would push into the background.

With all three voices present, let an entry emerge through colour rather than a sudden accent. Long notes continue to sing while the other lines move, so listen to their release as carefully as their attack. The MIDI file traces simultaneous events; the hierarchy of the counterpoint is decided at the keyboard.

What the document containsScoring: keyboard, three-part Ricercar. The 6-page PDF contains the complete piece, and the MIDI file provides continuous playback.Source and rights: Arnaud Gossart’s engraving for the Mutopia Project is based on the 1885 Breitkopf & Härtel edition. The work and this edition are in the public domain. Every page links back to LesPartitions.info.