Performance Transcription as a Variety of Musical Interpretation: An Example of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in C Minor BWV 549 Arranged for Button Accordion

The article is devoted to consideration of the specifics of performance transcriptions as one of the varieties of musical interpretation, focusing on the development of accordion repertoire, particularly the transcription of baroque polyphonic compositions. The aim is to explore the interpretative aspects of J.S. Bach’s Organ Prelude and Fugue in C minor BWV 549 adapted for accordion, considering the instrument’s technical and acoustic characteristics, as well as playing techniques. Through a comprehensive analysis, it demonstrates the importance of transforming the timbre of the organ piece to suit the accordion’s sound while capturing its figurative and ideological essence through diverse technical approaches to button accordion performance. Considering the textural intricacies of polyphonic compositions, their transcriptions for accordion are regarded as interpretive “renditions.” The performance interpretation of such pieces involves not only the faithful reproduction of the musical score but also the utilization of a range of technical playing techniques specific to the accordion. The proficient amalgamation of these techniques’ hinges on a deep understanding of various musical and expressive devices, the nuances of musical language, and the structural organization essential for the professional transcription of an organ composition for accordion.