Buxtehude organ works

[karlhenning]

Well, I haven't yet looked into a stateside source for this. But I am interested in principle 

[Que]

Having owned this recording since its first release more than ten years ago, I can only recommend it. It deserves to get better known. Yhe organist Ulrik Spang-Hanssen is a great virtuoso, and the interpretation is brilliant extrovert when needed and reflective when needed. He uses some restored baroque organs and some modern organs. 

Premont (and Harry), would you prefer it to Vogel (MDG)?

Q

[Harry]

Premont (and Harry), would you prefer it to Vogel (MDG)?

Q

I see it as a added bonus Que, for a ridiculous price.
I could live with this one, if Vogel was not on the market.

[Novi]

Its a surprise for me, that so little people are interested in such a great bargain.
Blimey 7 euro's for 5 cd's, Buxtehude...........

Hey Harry, I'm interested . Thanks for the tip. It's in my jpc basket now. I usually wait until I've accumulated a few disks before I order because of their flat rate delivery charge. I don't know these works, so am looking forward to them.

[Harry]

Hey Harry, I'm interested . Thanks for the tip. It's in my jpc basket now. I usually wait until I've accumulated a few disks before I order because of their flat rate delivery charge. I don't know these works, so am looking forward to them.

I assure you, it will not disappoint you...

[prémont]

Premont (and Harry), would you prefer it to Vogel (MDG)?

Q

No, the choice between Vogel and Spang-Hanssen would turn out in Vogels favour. But this is true of any other Buxtehude cycle, I have heard so far. I would recommend Spang-Hanssen as one of the most attractive supplementary choices for collectors of multiple recordings. And if Vogel was unavailable, Spang-Hanssen might easily become my first choice, - and regarding its cost indeed irresistible.

In short: get it, you will not regret.

[Que]

I see it as a added bonus Que, for a ridiculous price.
I could live with this one, if Vogel was not on the market.

No, the choice between Vogel and Spang-Hanssen would turn out in Vogels favour. But this is true of any other Buxtehude cycle, I have heard so far. I would recommend Spang-Hanssen as one of the most attractive supplementary choices for collectors of multiple recordings. And if Vogel was unavailable, Spang-Hanssen might easily become my first choice, - and regarding its cost indeed irresistible.

In short: get it, you will not regret.

Thank you both! I'll stick with Vogel first then - I have too little shelf space already. 
Even if it is 7 euros..

Q

[FideLeo]

Even if it is 7 euros..

Late W. A. Grieve-Smith also said "save your shekels for Vogel" here.  Naturally just another opinion, but nevertheless one from a very experienced organ-and-choir recording listener and collector, like our premont. 

[71 dB]

Input data:

+ 5 CDs for 7 euros is a bargain
+ Buxtehude rules
- I don't have shelf space
- I don't have too much money
- I have 4 volumes of Buxtehude organ works on Naxos
- I might want to try Vogel one day

=> Result after prosessing the input data: Do nothing.

[Cato]

So, when do we get a deal like this for e.g. the complete Langgard symphonies?

[Harry]

So, when do we get a deal like this for e.g. the complete Langgard symphonies?

Sigh......

[BachQ]

Input data:

+ 5 CDs for 7 euros is a bargain
+ Buxtehude rules
- I don't have shelf space
- I don't have too much money
- I have 4 volumes of Buxtehude organ works on Naxos
- I might want to try Vogel one day

=> Result after prosessing the input data: Do nothing.

You don't need shelf space.  Rip the CD's to your computer and then store the CD's in the closet.

[71 dB]

You don't need shelf space.  Rip the CD's to your computer and then store the CD's in the closet.

Who said I have closet space? I don't use my computer to listen to music at home (many technical reasons).

[Que]

Decided to take the discussion here.

Disc 5  (Still not done with this , Harry...  )

This is an excellent set, stylish and well condidered playing - though sometimes a touch on the "academic" side. Might supplement this with an organist that really goes "wild" with some Buxtehude. 
Gorgeous instruments, beautifully recorded.

Q

Most HIP Buxtehude integrals are a tad on the academical side. Ulrik Spang-Hanssen and Olivier Vernet offer a bir more Sturm und Drang than Vogel, but I am not sure, that you will find the difference big enough. But two older non-HIP integrals offer at least sometimes a more expressive, extatic and less academical playing. These are Walter Kraft and Michel Chapuis. Kraft has got dated sound and much reverberation, and Chapuis is variable and often rather mechanical. Taken as a whole (considering cost, style, sound) I think the dirt cheap Spang-Hanssen integral is the best buy (as complementation to Vogel). The newly rereleased Saorgin integral is imposing and relative cheap, but he is also rather much on the academical side. Rübsam, Rogg and Ablitzer are OOP, and I do not think, they would meet your demands. Foccroulle and Stender never go wild, Bryndorf only rarely. The Naxos integral with Julia Brown and others is reliable but no match for Vogel. I don´t know how the ongoing Koopman integral will turn out. We have to hope, that artists like Matthias Eisenberg and Martin Sander make an integral some day or maybe Andre Isoir.

Premont, thanks so much for your extensive and extremely helpful comments! 
I sampled Fouccrolle before buying the Vogel, and the reissued Saorgin set only yesterday - it indeed doesn't offer something more or different than Vogel. I'm still satisfied with my choice for Vogel, but will look further. Jean-Charles Ablitzer, well I like him very much in Couperin and in Bach as well, so that might be an option - if I can find it. And Ton Koopman, now there is a thought! He probably will do a complete series, but can sometimes take things over the top and sounding too fussy with over-ornamentation. Still, on moments that the stars are rightly aligned - I absolutetly love him, his Bach series on Novalis for instance (now also on Brilliant).

Matthias Eisenberg and Martin Sander are new names to me - I'll keep them in mind. 
(Or maybe Kay Johannsen or Martin Lücker?)

Q

EDIT: PS - Ablitzer seems to rock. (Samples)

[Josquin des Prez]

Three pages into this thread and nobody has mentioned Rene Saorgin yet? The hell...

[Josquin des Prez]

So, what is your opinion on the Saorgin?

I just think his interpretation is one of the most satisfying among those i heard. He accentuates all the dramatic passages with a deep, bellowing volume but has enough sense to play around with dynamic levels to create a bit of tonal variation. He has enough control under his finger not to let any loose edges slip and the polyphony is always maintained clear through a uniform, plastic tone. The only downside is that his finales don't have a lot of fire and he actually becomes metronomic at times (but not always!), and he keeps everything under such a firm grip the music lacks a bit of spontaneity.

Walter Kraft shares many of the same qualities except his playing has a lot more freedom, but his set looses a lot in terms of sound quality. 

Harald Voge is often very nimble and dynamic but he's too projected, he never let's the music rest at any point. Other times, he becomes worst then Saorgin. His tone is too thin (and sometimes flat), as well. His set is the only one that is "truly" complete though, but that's assuming you really need every scrap of music Buxtehude has ever written (plus much of omitted material was intended for harpsichord and works better that way too).

Michel Chapuis is way too fast and he brushes off a lot of things. Didn't like him much. Ulrik Spang-Hanssen also gave me a bad impression but i forgot why. It's been a long time since i listened to his recording.

Actually, now that i think about it i haven't listened to this music for a while so perhaps i'm ready for a fresh re-evaluation.

[Don]

I believe it's good in monophonic sense. 2D picture can be good in 2D sense but it's not the same as 3D picture. Acoustics is much more than just the reverberation time.

It amazes me that so many folks put as much priority on DDD sound as they do on the quality of the music and performances.

[Don]

Three pages into this thread and nobody has mentioned Rene Saorgin yet? The hell...

I've had Saorgin's cycle for many years and consider it essential.  As far as SACD's go, I opt for the Bryndorf cycle in progress - her celebratory style suits me perfectly.

[Que]

I just think his interpretation is one of the most satisfying among those i heard.....

Much appreciated, JdP! 
I'll keep your comments on Vogel in mind, while evaluating his set.

I've had Saorgin's cycle for many years and consider it essential.  As far as SACD's go, I opt for the Bryndorf cycle in progress - her celebratory style suits me perfectly.

And I'll have listen to Bryndorf as well, thanks Don.

When sampling, I liked Jean-Charles Ablitzer (Harmonic Records) a lot - is there anyone that can comment on those?

Q

[71 dB]

It amazes me that so many folks put as much priority on DDD sound as they do on the quality of the music and performances.

It amazes me that so many folks don't care about sound quality. Why listen to pre-historical, noisy and distorted mono sound when just as good performances are available in crystal clean stereo DDD sound or even multichannel SACD sound?