Bach: The Art of Fugue
Tatiana Nikolayeva (piano)
CDA66631/2
The contrapuntal Ricercare derives from the vocal motet and dates from as far back as Flemish composer Adrian Willaert (c1490–1562). He wrote nine instrumental ricercari (1551). Subsequently, organ ricercari were prevalent in seventeenth-century Italy. Most commonly, ricercari are in several sections, each of these being a fugal exposition with the basic theme presented in each polyphonic voice.