I recently wrote about Igor Markevitch's orchestration of J.S. Bach's
'Musical Offering' (Marco Polo 8.225120).  A fine work, and recommendable
CD.

One of the most felicitous re-workings of Bach, to my ear, is the
transcription for strings of the Goldberg Variations (BWV 988) by Dmitry
Sitkovetsky & the New European Strings Ch Orch (on Nonesuch 79341-2).
According to the author of its liner notes, the composer John Adams,
such works were called "...Bearbeitung: an arrangement or reworking of
a preexisting piece of music.  Such adaptations by one composer or
performer of another's work or, for that matter, of one's own, were
common in Bach's time."

A splendid idea, certainly in the case of Bach.  My collection includes
several Bach bearbeitungen, such as Edwin Fischer's rendering of Ferrucio
Busoni's of 'Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ,' BWV 639 (Philips/EMI
Great Pianists series); Alexis Weissenberg interpreting Lizst's re-working
of the Prelude and Fugue in A minor, BWV 543, and the Byron Janis version
as well (both on the same Great Pianists series).  There's also Robin
Holloway's more contemporary 2-piano adaptation of the Goldbergs, spanning
almost 100 minutes of music (Hyperion CDA 67360).

Others may populate my shelves, but nothing comes to mind as forcefully
as the Sitkovetsky.  I'm aware of a gap, in short, and would like to
fill it.

Busoni's transcription of the Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue in D minor,
BWV 903 recently appeared in a new Naxos (8.555691); I consider that
this 14-minute cello and piano piece alone more than earns the price of
the whole CD.  I wonder: 'anyone familiar with the CD of Bach Transcriptions
(by Saint Saens, etc.) for piano, played by Risto Lauriala (Naxos
8.553761)?

To get to the point: I'd appreciate hearing your recommended recordings
of adaptations, orchestrations and transcriptions of Bach's music.

Bert Bailey