The original written for organ is probably the best known work by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). The exact year of composition is unknown, but it is estimated to be from when Bach was 20 years old. It is often said that the work is incomplete. It shows his writing skill was yet maturing, but the free-spirited phrase processing and dramatic impact of youth make it a good work that is appealing to listeners. This arrangement for the clarinet ensemble was written for the Tokyo Clarinet Ensemble in 1980 and was distributed as rental sheet music for about 10 years, and has just become available for sale. At the time of publication, the score was newly engraved, but the content was limited to correcting obvious mistakes, and the bar division and phrasing from the Stokowski version of "Toccata and Fugue" was almost the same as the first draft.
(Kazuhiro Morita)
