| Title | Musikalisches Opfer | 
| Alternative title | Musical Offering | 
| Creators | Johann Sebastian Bach (composer) | 
| Opus | BWV 1079 | 
| Instrumentation | flute, 2 violins and harpsichord | 
| Number of movements | 13 | 
| Keys | — | 
| Composed | 1747 | 
| First published | 1747 | 
| Dedication | of Prussia | 
| Tempo markings | — | 
| Metronome markings | — | 
| Time signatures | — | 
| Average duration (sec) | — | 
| Number of measures | — | 
| Composition types | Fugues, Sonatas, Canons | 
| Period | Baroque | 
| View on IMSLP |  | 
| Code |  | 
(No sections)
| Details | Section | Arranged for | Arranger | 
|---|---|---|---|
| view | Complete | orchestra | — | 
| view | Complete | flute, strings and continuo | — | 
| view | Selections | flute, strings and continuo | Jürgen Knuth | 
| view | Selections | 2 recorders keyboard 2 violins 3 recorders recorder and keyboard 3 saxophones flute and keyboard | Alberto Gomez Gomez | 
| view | Ricercar a 6 | orchestra | Anton Webern | 
| view | Ricercar a 6 | orchestra | J. B. | 
| view | Ricercar a 6 | strings | Gustav Lenzewski | 
| view | Ricercar a 6 | 6 recorders | Jaap Wiebes | 
| view | Ricercar a 6 | 6 recorders | — | 
| view | Ricercar a 6 | flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon and horn | Rutger Hofman | 
| view | Ricercar a 6 | 2 horns, 2 trumpets and 2 trombones | Reiny Rolock | 
| view | Ricercar a 6 | 2 violins, 2 violas and 2 cellos | Trey Chever | 
| view | Ricercar a 6 | 2 violins, 2 violas and 2 cellos | Alexander Devereux | 
| view | Ricercar a 6 | 6 viols | Torben Klaes | 
| view | Ricercar a 6 | 6 cellos | Orfeo Mandozzi | 
| view | Ricercar a 6 | flute, violin, cello and piano | Bora Gökhan Bilgen | 
| view | Ricercar a 6 | 3 violins and harpsichord | Jürgen Knuth | 
| view | Ricercar a 6 | organ | Herbert Collum | 
| view | Ricercar a 6 | piano | — | 
| view | Ricercar a 6 | piano | Ruoshi Sun | 
| view | Sonata sopr' il soggetto Reale | flute, clarinet and continuo | Tom Van der Grinten | 
| view | Sonata sopr' il soggetto Reale | organ | Emmanuel Legrand | 
| view | Sonata sopr' il soggetto Reale | organ | Harold Richards | 
| view | Canones diversi super Thema Regium | oboe, clarinet and bassoon | Roe William Goodman | 
| view | Canones diversi super Thema Regium | 3 bassoons | Roe William Goodman | 
| view | Canones diversi super Thema Regium | 2 bassoons and horn | Roe William Goodman | 
| view | Canon a 2 cancrizans | 2 recorders | R.D. Tennent | 
| view | Canon a 2 cancrizans | 2 cellos | Orfeo Mandozzi | 
| view | Canon a 2 per tonos | 3 guitars | Bernd Goldau | 
| Details | Section | Type | Publisher | Date | File | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| view | Complete | — | Leipzig: Johann Sebastian Bach | 1747 | Main title and dedicatory preface (Fasc.1, A) · view Ricercar a 3 / Canon Perpetuus super Thema Regium (Fasc.1, B) · view Sonata sopr'il Soggetto Reale. Canon Perpetuus: Title (Fasc.2, C) · view Sonata sopr'il Soggetto Reale. Canon Perpetuus: Flute (Fasc.2, C) · view Sonata sopr'il Soggetto Reale. Canon Perpetuus: Violin (Fasc.2, C) · view Sonata sopr'il Soggetto Reale. Canon Perpetuus: Continuo (Fasc.2, C) · view Title page: R.I.C.E.R.C.A.R. (Fasc.3, D) · view Canones diversi super Thema Regium 1-5 / Fuga Canonica in Epidiapente (Fasc.3, D) · view Ricercar a 6 / Canon a 2 Quaerendo invenietis / Canon a 4 (Fasc.3, E) · view | 
| view | Complete | — | — | 1747 | Ricercar a 3, Canon Perpetuus super Thema Regium, Ricercar a 6, Quaerendo Invenietis · view Regis Iussu Cantio Et Reliqua Canonica Arte Resoluta · view Title Page, Dedication Text, Ricercar a 3, Canon Perpetuus super Thema Regium, Regis Iussu Cantio Et Reliqua Canonica Arte Resoluta, Ricercar a 6, Quaerendo Invenietis (color scan) · view Sonata sopr'il Soggetto Reale [with Canon perpetuus] · view Sonata sopr'il Soggetto Reale [with Canon perpetuus] (color scan) · view | 
| view | Complete | — | — | — | Complete Score (with appendices) · view | 
| view | Complete | — | — | — | Complete Score · view Anhang I. Ricercare a 6. Ältere Fassung (Autograph) Anhang I. Ricercare a 6. Jüngere Fassung (Originaldruck) · view Anhang II. Auflösungen der kanonischen Sätze · view Anhang III*. Andante der Sonata. Generalbaß-Aussetzung · view | 
| view | Complete | selections | Bärenreiter | 1981 | Ricercar a 3 · view Ricercar a 6 · view Sonata sopr'il soggetto Reale a Traversa, Violino e Continuo · view | 
| view | Complete | selections | Jürgen Knuth | — | Canon a 2 Violini in unisono (score, parts) · view Canon perpetuus per giusti intervalli · view | 
| view | Ricercar a 3 | — | — | — | Complete Score: normal size but requires a page turner. · view Complete Score: small size but pages can be arranged as a tryptic. · view Engraving files (MusiXTeX) · view | 
| view | Ricercar a 6 | — | Manuscript | 1700 | Complete Score · view | 
| view | Ricercar a 6 | — | Composer's Manuscript | — | Complete Score · view | 
| view | Ricercar a 6 | — | Savio Law | 2013 | Complete Score · view | 
| view | Sonata sopr'il Soggetto Reale a Traversa, Violino e Continuo | — | Edition Peters | — | Complete Score (Keyboard) · view Flute (or Violin 1), Violin (2) · view Cello · view | 
| view | Sonata sopr'il Soggetto Reale a Traversa, Violino e Continuo | — | Jürgen Knuth | — | Largo · view Allegro · view Andante · view Allegro · view | 
| view | Canon a 2 cancrizans | — | — | — | Complete Score · view | 
| view | Fuga canonica in Epidiapente | — | Alexander E. Volkov | 2020 | Complete Score · view | 
| view | Complete | Arrangement for orchestra | Edition Peters | — | Piano-Conductor Score · view Flute · view Oboe 1, 2, 3, Oboe d'amore, Oboe da caccia (English Horn) · view Bassoon · view Violin solo · view Violins I · view Violins II · view Violins III · view Violas · view Violas da gamba · view Violas da gamba (Cellos) · view Cellos I · view Cellos II/Basses · view Harpsichord (or Organ) · view | 
| view | Complete | Arrangement for flute, strings and continuo | — | — | Complete Score · view Complete Parts · view | 
| view | Complete | Arrangement for flute, strings and continuo | Jürgen Knuth | — | Complete Score · view Complete Parts · view Ricercar a 3 - Score and Parts · view Ricercare a 6 - Score and Parts · view Canon a 2 cancrizans - Score and Parts · view Canon a 2 per Motum contrarium -- Score and Parts · view Canon a 2 per Augmentationem - Score and Parts · view Canon a 2 per tonos - Score and Parts · view Fuga canonica in Epidiapente - Score and Parts · view Canon perpetuus super Thema regium - Score and Parts · view Canon a 2 Quaerendo invenietis - Score · view Canon a 4 Quaerendo invenietis - Score and Parts · view Engraving files (Capella, MusicXML) · view | 
| view | Complete | Arrangement for 2 recorders keyboard 2 violins 3 recorders recorder and keyboard 3 saxophones flute and keyboard | — | — | Canons - Complete Score · view Engraving files (Finale) · view | 
| view | Ricercar a 6 | Arrangement for orchestra | Universal Edition | 1935 | Complete Score · view | 
| view | Ricercar a 6 | Arrangement for orchestra | — | — | Flute · view Oboe · view English Horn · view Clarinet (B) · view Bass Clarinet (B) · view Bassoon · view Horn (F) · view Trumpet (C) · view Trombone · view Timpani · view Harp · view Violins I · view Violins II · view Violas · view Cellos · view Basses · view | 
| view | Ricercar a 6 | Arrangement for strings | Vieweg | — | Complete Score · view Violins I · view Violins II · view Violas I · view Violas II · view Cellos I · view Cellos II/Basses · view | 
| view | Ricercar a 6 | Arrangement for 6 recorders | — | — | Complete Score and Parts · view | 
| view | Ricercar a 6 | Arrangement for 6 recorders | — | — | Complete Score · view Complete Parts · view | 
| view | Ricercar a 6 | Arrangement for flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon and horn | — | — | Complete Score · view Flute · view Oboe · view Clarinet (B) · view Bass Clarinet (B) · view Bassoon · view Horn (F) · view Engraving files (Lilypond) · view | 
| view | Ricercar a 6 | Arrangement for 2 horns, 2 trumpets and 2 trombones | Chicago: Reiny Rolock | 2013 | Complete score and parts · view | 
| view | Ricercar a 6 | Arrangement for 2 violins, 2 violas and 2 cellos | — | — | Complete Score · view | 
| view | Ricercar a 6 | Arrangement for 2 violins, 2 violas and 2 cellos | — | — | Complete Score and Parts · view | 
| view | Ricercar a 6 | Arrangement for 6 viols | — | — | Complete Score and Parts · view | 
| view | Ricercar a 6 | Arrangement for 6 cellos | Winterthur: Orfeo Mandozzi | 2013 | Complete Score and Parts · view | 
| view | Ricercar a 6 | Arrangement for flute, violin, cello and piano | Bora Gökhan Bilgen | 2020 | Complete Score · view Flute · view Violin · view Cello · view | 
| view | Ricercar a 6 | Arrangement for 3 violins and harpsichord | Jürgen Knuth | — | Complete Score and Parts · view | 
| view | Ricercar a 6 | Arrangement for organ | — | — | Complete Score · view | 
| view | Ricercar a 6 | Arrangement for piano | — | — | Complete Score · view | 
| view | Ricercar a 6 | Arrangement for piano | Ruoshi Sun | 2018 | Complete Score · view | 
| view | Sonata sopr' il soggetto Reale | Arrangement for flute, clarinet and continuo | — | — | Clarinet (A) · view | 
| view | Sonata sopr' il soggetto Reale | Arrangement for organ | Emmanuel Legrand | 2022 | Complete Score · view | 
| view | Sonata sopr' il soggetto Reale | Arrangement for organ | — | — | III. Andante ( C major ) (full size) · view III. Andante ( C major ) (miniature) · view | 
| view | Canones diversi super Thema Regium | Arrangement for oboe, clarinet and bassoon | — | — | Complete Score and Parts · view | 
| view | Canones diversi super Thema Regium | Arrangement for 3 bassoons | — | — | Complete Score and Parts · view | 
| view | Canones diversi super Thema Regium | Arrangement for 2 bassoons and horn | — | — | Complete Score and Parts · view | 
| view | Canon a 2 cancrizans | Arrangement for 2 recorders | — | — | Complete Score ( C minor ) · view Complete Score ( G minor ) · view | 
| view | Canon a 2 cancrizans | Arrangement for 2 cellos | Winterthur: Orfeo Mandozzi | 2013 | Complete Score ( A minor ) · view Complete Score ( D minor ) · view | 
| view | Canon a 2 per tonos | Arrangement for 3 guitars | — | — | Complete Score and Parts · view | 
| Details | Type | Section | Ensemble | Performers | Arranged for | Files | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| view | Synthesized | — | Orchestre de chambre Paul Kuentz (orchestra) | — | Complete Recording · file | ||
| view | Synthesized | — | Ensemble instrumental Jean-Marie Leclair (ensemble) | Jean-François Paillard (performer) | — | Ricercar a 6 · file | |
| view | Synthesized | — | — | — | Ricercar a 3 · file Sonata sopr'il Soggetto Reale a Traversa, Violino e Continuo: 1. Largo · file Sonata sopr'il Soggetto Reale a Traversa, Violino e Continuo: 2. Allegro · file Sonata sopr'il Soggetto Reale a Traversa, Violino e Continuo: 3. Andante, 4. Allegro · file Ricercare a 6 · file | ||
| view | Synthesized | Synthesized | Selections | — | For Flute, Strings and Continuo (Knuth) | Ricercar a 3 · file Ricercare a 6 (Flute and Strings) · file Ricercare a 6 (Strings and Harpsichord) · file Sonata, Largo · file Sonata, Allegro · file Sonata, Andante · file Sonata, Allegro · file Canon a 2 cancrizans · file Canon a 2 Violini in unisono · file Canon a 2 per Motum contrarium · file Canon a 2 per Augmentationem, contrario Motu · file Canon a 2 per tonos · file Fuga canonica in Epidiapente · file Canon perpetuus super Thema regium · file Canon perpetuus per giusti intervalli · file Canon a 2 Quaerendo invenietis · file | |
| view | Synthesized | Synthesized | Selections: Canons | — | — | 1. Canon a 2 Cancrizans · file 2. Canon a 2 Violini in Unisono · file 3. Canon a 2 per Motum Contrarium · file 4. Canon a 2 per augmentationem contrario motu · file 5. Canon a 2 per tonos · file 6. Fuga Canonica in Epidiapente · file 7. Canon perpetuus super Thema Regium · file 8. Canon perpetuus · file 9. Canon a 2 Quaerendo invenietis · file 10. Canon a 4 Quaerendo invenietis · file | |
| view | Synthesized | Synthesized | Canon a 2 cancrizans | — | For 2 Recorders (Tennent) | Synthesized Performance · file | 
©2025 David P. Anderson