Víkingur Ólafsson’s second Deutsche Grammophon album, the pithily entitled Bach, contained a mixture of original works and transcriptions, which the pianist wove together in intriguing style.

Bach Reworks brings together atmospheric reworkings of music by composers such as Hans-Joachim Roedelius, Ben Frost, Peter Gregson and Valgeir Sigurðsson – reimaginings that artfully defragment the creations of Bach.

It also features a moving and intimate new work Ólafsson has written in memory of his late friend and colleague Jóhann Jóhannsson.

“Everything is there in Johann Sebastian’s music: architectural perfection and profound emotion,” says Ólafsson. In his hands, the universe that is Bach shines with new light.

Tracklisting:
1. For Jóhann
- Víkingur Ólafsson (piano)
2. Prelude BWV 855a - Valgeir Sigurðsson Rework
- Valgeir Sigurðsson (electronics) & Víkingur Ólafsson (piano)
3. Prelude in G Major
- Víkingur Ólafsson (piano)
4. Above and Below, B minor
- Peter Gregson (cello, electronics) & Víkingur Ólafsson (piano)
5. Prelude BWV 855a - Ben Frost Ladder Mix
- Ben Frost (synthesizer programming) & Víkingur Ólafsson (piano)
6. Widerstehe doch der Sünde, from BWV 54 (transcr. by Víkingur Ólafsson)
- Víkingur Ólafsson (piano)
7. BWV 974: II Adagio – rework
- Ryuichi Sakamoto (electronics) & Víkingur Ólafsson (piano)
8. Minor C Variation
- Hildur Guðnadóttir (cello)
9. ...And at the Hour of Death
- Víkingur Ólafsson (piano)
10. Bach mit Zumutungen
- Hans-Joachim Roedeliusm (electronics), Thomas Rabitsch (sound design) & Víkingur Ólafsson (piano)
11. Kyriena
- Skúli Sverrisson (electronics) & Víkingur Ólafsson (piano)
12. Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit, from BWV 106 (transcr. by György Kurtág)
- Víkingur Ólafsson (piano) & Halla Oddný Magnúsdóttir (piano)