When renowned pianist Bach Well-Tempered Clavier interpreter Minsoo Sohn recorded his latest album, an unexpected element was captured in the background: the faint chirping of birds. Although usually considered noise and edited out, Sohn decided to leave the sounds intact. He felt they perfectly illustrated the deep connection between Bach’s musical universe and nature, allowing listeners to hear the authentic atmosphere of the recording session if they listened closely.
During a special artist talk hosted by The JoongAng Plus in Seoul’s Pyeongchang-dong, Sohn discussed his massive undertaking of recording and performing all 24 preludes and fugues of Book 1 of Johann Sebastian Bach’s monumental Work. Recorded last April in Elmau, in the German Alps, the album reflects the serene and challenging environment where Sohn spent days walking through majestic mountains and starry nights to find clarity in Bach’s intricate structures.
Johann Sebastian Bach’s two books of the Well-Tempered Clavier, composed during his 30s and 50s, hold a pivotal place in keyboard history. They served as experimental compositions utilizing all keys made possible by equal temperament and elevated the fugue—a crucial form in Western music history—to new heights. For Sohn, returning to Bach six years after his complete Beethoven sonata recording was both a long-held aspiration and a daunting challenge, echoing his former teacher Russell Sherman’s sentiment that a true master is one who can gracefully recover when losing their place in Bach’s strict architecture.
Explaining his motivation to embark on this monumental journey, Sohn noted that teaching younger generations in today’s fast-paced digital society made him realize how desperately people need the contemplation that Bach’s music demands. On October 27, Sohn will perform the complete Book 1 at the Seoul Arts Center, continuing a lifelong pursuit of finding personal meaning and endless discovery within a timeless masterpiece.
