Johann Sebastian Bach’s (1685-1750) Concerto nach Italiænischen Gusto (“Concerto in the Italian taste”, “Italian Concerto”), BWV 971, transcribed for organ solo by James Kennerley.

I made this transcription for my annual Bach Birthday Bash concert as part of my duties as Municipal Organist of the City of Portland, Maine in 2019. In 1735 Bach published the second volume of his Clavier-Übung (literally, “keyboard practice”). The collection (which would total four volumes) served to demonstrate to the world his mastery of a wide range of keyboard compositions in various styles. The first part of this second collection opened with the Concerto nach Italiænischen Gusto (“Concerto in the Italian taste”) and closed with the Ouvertüre nach Französischer Art, also known as the French Overture.

The concerto reflects the Italianate instrumental concerti by the likes of Vivaldi and Marcello that were popular at Weimar court where Bach served between 1708 and 1717. Originally intended for the harpsichord, the innately orchestral nature of the Italian Concerto naturally translates to the organ. Indeed, Bach produced both harpsichord and organ transcriptions of the instrumental concerti provided to him by his Weimar employer, Prince Johann Ernst, implying that he may have approved of this adaptation.

As with the original harpsichord version, which makes specific use of the sound contrasts of a double-manual harpsichord, the organ allows for an even greater range of tonal color and contrast. This version began its life in 2015 and was first performed by James Kennerley in 2019. The transcription can be adapted to organs large and small with relative ease, and it can also be performed on instruments with limited or short-compass pedalboards.

Watch a performance of this transcription here: https://youtu.be/m0BW5ZuR59o