The Musical Offering (Das Musikalische Opfer), BWV. 1079, is a collection of canons and fugues and other pieces by J.S. Bach, all based on a single musical theme given to him by Frederick II of Prussia, to whom they are dedicated. The instrumentation is still a matter of debate, some scholars stating that, apart from the trio sonata, the rest of the pieces are meant for solo keyboard. Numerous instrumentations have been put forward, sometimes by famous composers. Some of the canons provided in the work are presented as a single melody accompanied by an inscription in latin, thus posing a riddle for the player (most contemporary editions provide at least one solution).
