Bach's Greatest Works Part 2b The Organ

[DavidW]

Alot we came up with this list of top organ works.

• BWV 528, Trio Sonata in E minor
• BWV 542, Fantasia & Fugue in G minor The Great Fugue
• BWV 548, Prelude and Fugue in E minor The Wedge
• BWV 552, Prelude and Fugue in E flat major St. Anne
• BWV 566, Toccata and Fugue in E/C major
• BWV 578, Fugue in G minor The Little Fugue
• BWV 582, Passacaglia in C minor
• BWV 590, Pastorale in F major
• BWV 599, Orgelbüchlein Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland
• BWV 600, Orgelbüchlein Gott, durch deine Güte/Gottes Sohn ist kommen
• BWV 601, Orgelbüchlein Herr Christ, der ein'ge Gottessohn/Herr Gott nun sei gepreiset
• BWV 602, Orgelbüchlein Lob sei dem allmächtigen Gott
• BWV 603, Orgelbüchlein Puer natus in Bethlehem
• BWV 604, Orgelbüchlein Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ
• BWV 605, Orgelbüchlein Der Tag, der ist so freudenreich
• BWV 606, Orgelbüchlein Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her
• BWV 607, Orgelbüchlein Vom Himmel kam der Engel Schaar
• BWV 608, Orgelbüchlein In dulci jubilo
• BWV 609, Orgelbüchlein Lobt Gott, ihr Christen, allzugleich
• BWV 610, Orgelbüchlein Jesu, meine Freude
• BWV 611, Orgelbüchlein Christum wir sollen loben schon
• BWV 612, Orgelbüchlein Wir Christenleut
• BWV 613, Orgelbüchlein Helft mir Gottes Güte preisen
• BWV 614, Orgelbüchlein Das alte Jahr vergangen ist
• BWV 615, Orgelbüchlein In dir ist Freude
• BWV 616, Orgelbüchlein Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin
• BWV 617, Orgelbüchlein Herr Gott, nun schleuß den Himmel auf
• BWV 618, Orgelbüchlein O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig
• BWV 619, Orgelbüchlein Christe, du Lamm Gottes
• BWV 620, Orgelbüchlein Christus, der uns selig macht
• BWV 621, Orgelbüchlein Da Jesus an dem Kreuze stund
• BWV 622, Orgelbüchlein O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß
• BWV 623, Orgelbüchlein Wir danken dir, Herr Jesu Christ, daß du für uns gestorben bist
• BWV 624, Orgelbüchlein Hilf, Gott, daß mir's gelinge
• BWV 625, Orgelbüchlein Christ lag in Todesbanden
• BWV 626, Orgelbüchlein Jesus Christus, unser Heiland, der den Tod überwand
• BWV 627, Orgelbüchlein Christ ist erstanden
• BWV 628, Orgelbüchlein Erstanden ist der heil'ge Christ
• BWV 629, Orgelbüchlein Erschienen ist der herrliche Tag
• BWV 630, Orgelbüchlein Heut triumphieret Gottes Sohn
• BWV 631, Orgelbüchlein Komm, Gott Schöpfer, Heiliger Geist
• BWV 632, Orgelbüchlein Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend
• BWV 633-634, Orgelbüchlein Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier
• BWV 635, Orgelbüchlein Dies sind die heilgen zehn Gebot
• BWV 636, Orgelbüchlein Vater unser im Himmelreich
• BWV 637, Orgelbüchlein Durch Adams Fall ist ganz verderbt
• BWV 638, Orgelbüchlein Es ist das Heil uns kommen her
• BWV 639, Orgelbüchlein Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ
• BWV 640, Orgelbüchlein In dich hab ich gehoffet, Herr
• BWV 641, Orgelbüchlein Wenn wir in höchsten Nöten sein
• BWV 642, Orgelbüchlein Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten
• BWV 643, Orgelbüchlein Alle Menschen müssen sterben
• BWV 644, Orgelbüchlein Ach wie nichtig, ach wie flüchtig
• BWV 651-652 Leipzig Organ Chorale Komm, Heiliger Geist, Herre Gott
• BWV 653, Leipzig Organ Chorale An Wasserflüssen Babylon
• BWV 654, Leipzig Organ Chorale Schmücke dich, O liebe Seele
• BWV 655, Leipzig Organ Chorale Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend
• BWV 656, Leipzig Organ Chorale O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig
• BWV 657, Leipzig Organ Chorale Nun danket alle Gott
• BWV 658, Leipzig Organ Chorale Von Gott will ich nicht lassen
• BWV 659-661, Leipzig Organ Chorale Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland
• BWV 662-664, Leipzig Organ Chorale Allein Gott in der Höh' sei Ehr'
• BWV 665-666, Leipzig Organ Chorale Jesus Christus, unser Heiland
• BWV 667, Leipzig Organ Chorale Komm, Gott Schöpfer, Heiliger Geist
• BWV 668, Leipzig Organ Chorale Komm, Gott Schöpfer, Heiliger Geist
• BWV 669, Chorales Clavierübung III Kyrie, Gott Vater in Ewigkeit
• BWV 670, Chorales Clavierübung III Christe, aller Welt Trost
• BWV 671, Chorales Clavierübung III Kyrie, Gott heiliger Geist
• BWV 672, Chorales Clavierübung III Kyrie, Gott Vater in Ewigkeit
• BWV 673, Chorales Clavierübung III Christe, aller Welt Trost
• BWV 674, Chorales Clavierübung III Kyrie, Gott heiliger Geist
• BWV 675-677, Chorales Clavierübung III Allein Gott in der Höh' sei Ehr'
• BWV 678-679, Chorales Clavierübung III Dies sind die heilgen zehn Gebot
• BWV 680-681, Chorales Clavierübung III Wir glauben all' an einen Gott
• BWV 682-683, Chorales Clavierübung III Vater unser im Himmelreich
• BWV 684-685, Chorales Clavierübung III Christ, unser Herr, zum Jordan kam
• BWV 686-687, Chorales Clavierübung III Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir
• BWV 688, Chorales Clavierübung III Jesus Christus, unser Heiland, der von uns den Zorn Gottes wandt
• BWV 689, Chorales Clavierübung III Jesus Christus, unser Heiland
• BWV 769, Canonic Variations Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her

Bach is first and foremost an organist.  I might expect that this should show his personality more than anything, since he identifies so much with the organ.  How much of his personality do you hear in the organ music?  Does it shine through brighter than the works or not?  How do you like all those transcriptions?  Hey, in what way does Bach's organ works transcend others of his time?  In what way do they not?

These works are still commonly played across the world.  What qualities do they have that keeps these works in frequent rotation (if it's true and not in my head)?  In what way does the right organ (if there is such a thing) create the right atmosphere?  Is the choice of organ important for you to really enjoy a performance one of these works?

Answer as many of these questions as you like, or none of them.  If I'm asking the wrong questions, feel free to ask your own.

[Bulldog]

In what way does the right organ (if there is such a thing) create the right atmosphere?  Is the choice organ important for you to really enjoy a performance one of these works?

The choice of organist is much more important to me that the organ used.

[prémont]

The choice of organist is much more important to me that the organ used.

Fortunately the right organist tends to choose the right organ or at least a suitable organ.

Just as the right keyboard player (in Bach) tends to choose the harpsichord or (clavichord).

[Marc]

Bach is first and foremost an organist.

This has yet to be proven.

[DavidW]

This has yet to be proven.

Well it's an opinion, so it can't be proven.

[Gurn Blanston]

The choice of organist is much more important to me that the organ used.

Why is that, Don? Certainly there isn't going to be a totally incompetent organist being recorded playing Bach, unless it's a vanity recording. If a good solid musician is driving the bus (as a constant factor), then the choice of instrument can be crucial for effect, yes?

Somewhere in there, the music itself has to be acknowledged.

[Marc]

Well it's an opinion, so it can't be proven.

Errrr .... yeah, I think I meant something like that.

About instrument choice: I remember I said something about that before somewhere someplace in summertime ....

Listen f.i. to the recordings of the Duruflé's (EMI) and Weinberger (CPO) to hear what a difference an instrument can make. I prefer historic organs, although in Weinberger's case some of them are very closely miked. This brings in a rather chamber-like atmosphere, which can work for some compositions, but sometimes it's just too close for my likings. When sound quality is the subject, I prefer the integral of Bram Beekman (OOP). Splendid recordings of historic Dutch organs!

Of course, a neo-baroque organ can sound great, too.
Nice example: Stanislas Deriemaeker on the Metzler organ of Onze Lieve Vrouwekathedraal of Antwerp, Belgium (Rene Gailly CD87 137) .... probably OOP, too.
I also like the recordings of the second integral of Marie-Claire Alain, and the Raven cycle with George Ritchie.

[Bulldog]

Why is that, Don? Certainly there isn't going to be a totally incompetent organist being recorded playing Bach, unless it's a vanity recording. If a good solid musician is driving the bus (as a constant factor), then the choice of instrument can be crucial for effect, yes?

Somewhere in there, the music itself has to be acknowledged.

From the way I read your comments, you make it sound as if there's an assembly line of solid organists that offer equally compelling Bach performances.  Under this assumption, the organ then becomes of prime importance.

I prefer Bach on harpsichord, not piano.  Yet, my favorite WTC is Tureck on piano.  It's not her choice of instrument that rules, but her artistry as it impacts on the Bulldog.

I don't consider the choice of organ of minimal significance.  I just find that the performer is the ruling factor for me.

[Gurn Blanston]

From the way I read your comments, you make it sound as if there's an assembly line of solid organists that offer equally compelling Bach performances.  Under this assumption, the organ then becomes of prime importance.

I prefer Bach on harpsichord, not piano.  Yet, my favorite WTC is Tureck on piano.  It's not her choice of instrument that rules, but her artistry as it impacts on the Bulldog.

I don't consider the choice of organ of minimal significance.  I just find that the performer is the ruling factor for me.

No I'm not. I'm trying to create a situation where the player is not the main focus so you will not concentrate on it. If the variable is not the player, then what sort of organ qualities make for superior sonics and interpretive possibilities?

[karlhenning]

E. G. & G. Hook, all the way, dude!

[Bulldog]

No I'm not. I'm trying to create a situation where the player is not the main focus so you will not concentrate on it. If the variable is not the player, then what sort of organ qualities make for superior sonics and interpretive possibilities?

All else being equal, I tend to prefer historical organs from N. Europe and Sweden.