Exploring B A C H - the Ricercare of Alfredo Casella

Alfredo Casella (1883-1947)
no copyright infringement intended
(http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-complete-casella-pianist-studio-jlive-recordings-w27670)

Perhaps the Ricercare sul Nome di B A C H of Alfredo Casella brings in mind the oldest meaning of this form: to search, to play, to exercise - to explore a musical motif, a musical technique, to explore its mood; to meditate over it, over its context, over the world that made possible that motif, that technique.

An exploration made in the 20th century: the Ricercare of Alfredo Casella brings echoes from Debussy, or Ravel, or Enescu, while trying with delicacy to look there, at the times of Baroque.

Glenn Gould is perfect in rendering this piece: a man of the 20th century ignoring all that the 19th brought, speaking only the language of Pre-Classics.

Due Ricercari sul nome di B.A.C.H., Op.52 (1932) No.1
dedicated to Walter Gieseking
Glenn Gould, pianoforte
(video by The Wellesz Company)

(The B A C H motif)