Reflections on the Theme B-A-C-H

‘In this piece Sofia Gubaidulina reacts to the great unfinished fugue at the conclusion of the Art of Fugue, comprising expositions of three fugal themes, curiously excluding the original Art of Fugue theme. At the end of the extant section of the fugue Bach combines these three themes, and in fact it has been shown that it is possible to further combine them with the Art of Fugue theme as a fourth, as most scholars believe Bach intended had he completed the work. The third of the themes presented spells out Bach's name in musical notes (B being used in German for our B flat, H for our B natural), thus adding to the mystical nature of this fugue.
Sofia Gubaidulina's piece responds with music of heart-wrenching intensity, using the Bach themes involved, often obfuscated by wailing, writhing figures of her own. Searching glissandi, ghostly ponticello tremolos, and poignant, intense silences color a response to the Bach which amplifies and sheds new light on the deeply spiritual and enigmatic music of Contrapunctus XVIII.’ (Marc Steinberg)