James Oesi: J.S. Bach’s Fuga (BWV 1003)
Johann Sebastian Bach wrote some of the most exquisite music in human history. It has been studied and interpreted for centuries with musicians finding their own interpretations and understandings of each piece.
Bach did not write pieces for double bass, but that hasn’t stopped intrepid bassists from diving in. Today we’re sharing what may be the first performance of Bach’s Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Minor (BWV 1003) on the bass. James Oesi arranged the piece for bass and recorded a jaw-dropping version.
“Bach arranged this work himself for harpsichord (BWV 964) and as with many works of his, the way he approaches the arrangement and translation of his own music to another instrument inspired my process,” Oesi explains. “Bach always managed to translate existing works – whether originally his own, or someone else’s in a way that brings light to not only the music itself but also the new instrumentation. I hope that I too have managed to do this and create an arrangement that lets the music and my instrument, the double bass, shine. The fugue is glorious, in scope, in depth and in virtuosity and in arranging it for the bass I embraced the low register of the instrument which is surprisingly often shied away from in solo bass playing even though it is of course what makes the instrument so beautifully unique.”
Watch below, and then enjoy it again later with the digital stream of the track via Spotify, Apple Music, and other services.
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
