Notated on four staves, as though intended for some unspecified set of instruments (or even voices), these thirteen erudite contrapuncti, four canons, and an unfinished triple fugue-incorporating the letters of Bach's name-are often considered to be his musical testament. Shrouded in myths traceable to it's very origins, this is a puzzle for the performers and for the listeners alike, but when a brilliant string quartet takes up the challenge, a solution...

Featuring 21 new recordings, ranging from fresh arrangements of traditional folk tunes to mainstays from the western classical repertoire, the songs here bring a sense of community, identity, and purpose, crossing boundaries and binding listeners together in thanks, consolation, and encouragement.

Emanuel Ax, Leonidas Kavakos, and Yo-Yo Ma's new recording explores two of Beethoven's iconic symphonies in trio arrangements, maintaining all of the power and immediacy of the composer's orchestral works within the intimate language of a chamber ensemble.