Bach: The art of fugue

This is down to your own preference. If you like organ music then you should consider an organ version. I used to buy a lot of second hand classical vinyl and I remember the dealer that I used to visit telling me that his heart used to sink when he went to view a collection prior to buying only to discover that most of it was organ music - he just couldn't resell it.

So I guess that organ music is an acquired taste. As a general recommendation I would go for a piano version.

Either way it is a wonderful work that repays repeated listening.

Hope that you enjoy which ever version you go for.

You are not limited to just piano or organ, there are many versions with different combinations of instruments such as string quartets or small chamber ensembles, which help to give variety to the fugues.

This is where Spotify is very useful; to try before you buy.

All good advice above, and don't worry about what may or may not be authentic - it's not clear at all what instrument(s) Bach intended it to be written for. Wackypedia has a nice summary here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...ugue#Instrumentation

FWIW, here are Radio 3's recommendations from Building a Library:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007z0fd

I've got Evgeni Koriolov's piano version which I think is excellent and has this soundbite recommendation on the back from Gyorgy Ligeti:

"...but if I am to be allowed only one musical work on my desert island, then I should choose Koriolov's Bach, because, forsaken, starving and dying of thirst, I would listen to it right up to my last breath."

Phew, eh?

Mark

Excellent replies from everyone above in which I am in total agreement.  Yes, everyone might have their instrumental or ensemble preferance but avoid advice like the plague that narrowly only focuses on dogma such that any choice, style, or interpretation other than "_____" is fundamentally incorrect and makes you guilty of the unpardonable sin.

For myself, the following graphic represents what I am choosing (added bonus: notice that this motif just happens to be in d-minor !!!).  

When you choose the music alone, then there is no right or wrong way and you will start to understand.  What more can one desire?

Piano or organ?  You will not go wrong going in either direction.  My hope is that whatever you choose that you will not stop there and that you eventually add the other and as many keyboard or string version that you can.

Regards,

Doug