Paul Jacobs: The Art of Fugue

Celebrating 25 years since he first made musical history at age 23 by performing Bach’s complete organ works in an 18-hour marathon on the 250th anniversary of the composer’s death organist Paul Jacobs the only organist ever to have won a GRAMMY Award—in 2011 for Messiaen’s towering Livre du Saint-Sacrament—is today considered one of the most sought-after artists in the world. 

To mark this auspicious event Mr. Jacobs will perform one of Bach’s final and most enigmatic works—“The Art of Fugue” at St. Peter's Church Tuesday evening September 9 2025 7:30 p.m.

“The Art of Fugue is likely steeped in more intrigue than any other work of Bach” says Mr. Jacobs. “Many unanswered questions surround it including for which instrument or instruments he intended it to be performed—if at all. For an organist a particularly daunting puzzle presents itself beginning with deciding which two feet and hands will play each of the simultaneously interweaving lines of music.” 

"I think that Bach was in a sense ‘out for blood’ when composing The Art of Fugue. After all musical tastes were changing dramatically in the mid-18th century. Bach's own sons were catalysts for displacing his preferred ‘old’ contrapuntal style for a lighter simpler music. Possibly as an act of artistic defiance Bach set out to prove that there was still much to express in writing intricate fugues. The jaw-dropping complexity of this uncompromising work left unfinished on his deathbed has proven a crowning achievement in the history of music. Bottomless rewards await those who engage with it.”

You may also like the following events from Hemsing Associates:

• This month, 16th September, 07:30 pm, Paul Jacobs: Recreation of Felix Mendelssohn 's 1840 All-Bach Program in New York