JS Bach's 1747 Ricercar a 3 from Musical Offering on fortepiano - Roland C-200 classic

The tale of JS Bach's 1747 visit to Potsdam to visit his son CPE Bach and King Frederick the Great is almost too famous to recount. The King had Bach improvise on various fortepianos (forerunner of the modern piano) and harpsichords, and presented him with this Royal theme on which he improvised a three-part fugue.

The King also challenged him to improvise a six part fugue on the theme, but Bach declined, deciding instead to play of his own invention. Later on Bach wrote the theme into a series of canons, trio sonata and two ricercars (fugues) based on the theme including this 3 part one and a new 6 part one. The 3 part one is possibly close to what Bach improvised on the day.

Bach is known to have played pianos at various times in his life, and acted as agent for selling pianos in Leipzig. So no apology for playing this on the fortepiano stop of the great Roland C-200 Classic Organ