Coming up in Philly music: ‘Art of the Fugue,’ recorder-style

Bach’s fugues are normally played on a keyboard instrument, with one musician producing all the voices. They can also be played by quartets, with one performer handling each voice. The complex interplay between the voices can be transformed into a conversation between four instruments, colored by the special qualities each instrument adds to the dialogue.

How will The Art of the Fugue (which Bach left unfinished before his death — it was posthumously published in 1751) sound when it’s played by a recorder quartet? Tempesta di Mare presents a unique opportunity to hear Bach’s masterpiece played by Philadelphia’s leading recorder soloists: Gwyn Roberts, Priscilla Herreid, Héloïse Degrugillier, and Rainer Beckmann. It may sound like an odd idea to fans of the great piano and organ interpretations, but early-music enthusiasts frequently hear groups like Piffaro play fugal pieces on recorders. A good recorder quartet can sound like a mellow organ, with the higher instruments adding touches of verve and sparkle.

Tempesta di Mare will present Art of the Fugue for two Philadelphia performances: Friday, April 13, at 7:30pm at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (22 East Chestnut Hill Avenue); and on Saturday, April 14, at University Lutheran Church (3637 Chestnut Street). Tickets ($25) are available online and at the door.