Fantasy on a Fugue by J. S. Bach for woodwind quintet and piano Op.27 (1989) c.12'00"

Commissioned by Hexagon

First performed on March 21st, 1989 at the Kaufmann Concert Hall of the 92nd Street Y in New York City by Hexagon

ABOUT

Fantasy on a Fugue of J.S.Bach Op.27, was commissioned by the woodwind quintet and piano group Hexagon for their Young Concert Artists debut recital at the 92nd Street Y in 1989. Since the date was also that of Bach's 304th birthday, I decided to write a piece based on a theme which has haunted me for years - the subject of the 24th fugue of Book I of the Well-Tempered Clavier. The Fantasy on a Fugue of J.S.Bach takes the form of continuous variations on the Bach theme, culminating in a rather obsessive homage in the form of quintuple-fugal exposition accompagnata. The piece ends, as it begins with the solo keyboard quoting the Bach original.

REVIEWS

“Liebermann is only 29, but this piece shows a brilliance of his own in masterful ways…It’s the kind of piece you want to hear again, right away.”
The Sacramento Bee 

“His skill in writing for the instruments, and in capitalizing on the rhetorical assertiveness of the players, made for a most pleasing, promising musical event.”
The New York Times