Jozef Koffler

The transcription on this CD was prepared by the eminent Polish-Jewish composer from Lvov, Józef Koffler, who arranged the Variations for a chamber orchestra (flute, oboe, English horn, bassoon and string quintet). This transcription, completely unknown until only recently, is undoubtedly one of the best 20th-century transcriptions of Bach's music.

Since 1822 the Royal Academy of Music has inspired generations of musicians to connect, collaborate and create. This recording of Bach Partitas continues this mission, reuniting renowned harpsichordist and conductor Trevor Pinnock with students from the Royal Academy of Music and The Glenn Gould School of The Royal Conservatory in Toronto. Following the success of Goldberg Variations (arr. for small orchestra by Józef Koffler), the Principal of the Academy, Jonathan Freeman-Attwood commissioned ‘re-imaginings’ of three of Bach’s most celebrated keyboard Partitas for the same scoring, by alumnus composer Thomas Oehler. The creative challenge – to bring a fresh perspective to some of Bach’s most elegant resourceful and refined keyboard writing – pays off in the hands of wonderfully talented musicians, and reveals how Oehler’s faithful response to Bach’s score allows the music to glow as brightly as ever.

This new release from DUX presents a collection of recordings commemorating Jewish composers active mainly before World War II. Their music represents various stylistic trends of their era and was inspired by numerous ideas. The Hebrew Melody for violin and piano, Op. 33 by Joseph Achron (1886-1943) resulted from his fascination with the religious music of Ashkenazi Jews, while the Sonata for violin and piano by Joachim Mendelson (1887-1943), the recording of which is also the Polish recording premiere, reveals neoclassical interests of its author, which is also the case of the Sonata for cello and piano by Szymon Laks (1901-1983).The Capriccio by Jozef Koffler (1896-1944) is an avant-garde composition through and through, using the dodecaphonic technique combined with a neoclassical form.