J.S. Bach on the Organ

[Marc]

I am currently trying to get those interpretations that appeal to me. I already have Hans Fagius on BIS, which is good, but not entirely to my taste anymore, Gerhard Weinberger, and the Aeolus box. I have Andre Isoir in the waiting queue, but a member on this forum had its doubts about the legato, and the pulse of the music. I would be interested in complete cycles, not individual cd's. So I welcome suggestions plus motivation please. Maybe not such an interesting topic, but its important to me, so please...........

The Vernet is difficult to get, the Preston I have also, as Fagius. But I get good reports about the Vernet, so that might be the next set for me.
Thank you for letting me know Ken

So you already have: Fagius, Preston, Weinberger and Kooiman & pupils.

Since you own the latter two, I don't think Foccroulle (who's very good btw) will be adding that much, he's (more or less) in the same league.
Vernet is a very enthousiastic Bach interpreter, and, like Preston, he's playing a variety of baroque and 'modern' baroque organs (built by Aubertin and others) which are a treat to the ears.
Alain was Vernet's teacher, and one might say that she's a bit more mechanical compared to her pupil. Still, I find her very convincing.
Koopman is a mixed bag, a bit too hasty and virtuoso sometimes in the chorale free works, but his choice of instruments is fine, and he can be very impressive and convincing in the chorale based works.
Isoir is different, more 'old style', but he might add something different to what you already know.

Maybe you should try a disc of Wolfgang Rübsam's Naxos cycle to find out if you like his way of playing. This cycle has never been issued as a box set, but I think he'd be an interesting add-on to your collection, because he is almost a league of his own with his very personal approach towards articulation, rubato, rhytm and tempi.

[Harry]

So you already have: Fagius, Preston, Weinberger and Kooiman & pupils.

Since you own the latter two, I don't think Foccroulle (who's very good btw) will be adding that much, he's (more or less) in the same league.
Vernet is a very enthousiastic Bach interpreter, and, like Preston, he's playing a variety of baroque and 'modern' baroque organs (built by Aubertin and others) which are a treat to the ears.
Alain was Vernet's teacher, and one might say that she's a bit more mechanical compared to her pupil. Still, I find her very convincing.
Koopman is a mixed bag, a bit too hasty and virtuoso sometimes in the chorale free works, but his choice of instruments is fine, and he can be very impressive and convincing in the chorale based works.
Isoir is different, more 'old style', but he might add something different to what you already know.

Maybe you should try a disc of Wolfgang Rübsam's Naxos cycle to find out if you like his way of playing. This cycle has never been issued as a box set, but I think he'd be an interesting add-on to your collection, because he is almost a league of his own with his very personal approach towards articulation, rubato, rhytm and tempi.

Thank you for this tip, I never thought of Rubsam at all. I will sample him. Isoir choice of organs is not always to my liking, and some of his recordings are not that good, and although his interpretation has a strange attraction to me, I will hold it off for now. Vernet is in the queue if I can find a copy that has a normal price.

[kishnevi]

The price of the Vernet is especially startling when you consider the fact that I and several others got that set as a SuperDuperCheapBargain from JPC...I don't remember the actual price,  but I think it was in the €20 range.

[Ken B]

The price of the Vernet is especially startling when you consider the fact that I and several others got that set as a SuperDuperCheapBargain from JPC...I don't remember the actual price,  but I think it was in the €20 range.

Yep. A happy memory.

Look on SDCBT right now for the Teldec complete Bach. 5 left at Azon Italy

[kishnevi]

Yep. A happy memory.

Look on SDCBT right now for the Teldec complete Bach. 5 left at Azon Italy

Got that a couple of years ago.  Koopman's cycle is part of that.
Most interesting part of that for me was the chorales for 4 part chorus, the choral chorales so to speak.

[Marc]

Thank you for this tip, I never thought of Rubsam at all. I will sample him. Isoir choice of organs is not always to my liking, and some of his recordings are not that good, and although his interpretation has a strange attraction to me, I will hold it off for now. Vernet is in the queue if I can find a copy that has a normal price.

If you can stand legato playing, then maybe Wolfgang Stockmeier (Membran) is another option.
He's also in a different league than the four you've already got.
Stockmeier is playing a dozen or so Kreienbrink instruments in Germany and they have an attractive fresh sound.

http://www.youtube.com/v/M6UtbtTluXM

http://www.amazon.com/Stockmeier-Das-Orgelwerk-1-Wolfgang/dp/B000H9HZGG/?tag=goodmusicguideco

http://www.amazon.com/Das-Orgelwerk-2-Wolfgang-Stockmeier-Organ/dp/B000H9HZGQ/?tag=goodmusicguideco

http://www.amazon.de/Stockmeier-Das-Orgelwerk-1-Wolfgang/dp/B000H9HZGG/

http://www.amazon.de/Das-Orgelwerk-2-Wolfgang-Stockmeier-Organ/dp/B000H9HZGQ/

(As you can see at amazon.de: the boxes are about 16 € each. Prices that will make a true Dutchman happy. )

[Mandryka]

If you can stand legato playing, then maybe Wolfgang Stockmeier (Membran) is another option.
He's also in a different league than the four you've already got.
Stockmeier is playing a dozen or so Kreienbrink instruments in Germany and they have an attractive fresh sound.

http://www.youtube.com/v/M6UtbtTluXM

http://www.amazon.com/Stockmeier-Das-Orgelwerk-1-Wolfgang/dp/B000H9HZGG/?tag=goodmusicguideco

http://www.amazon.com/Das-Orgelwerk-2-Wolfgang-Stockmeier-Organ/dp/B000H9HZGQ/?tag=goodmusicguideco

http://www.amazon.de/Stockmeier-Das-Orgelwerk-1-Wolfgang/dp/B000H9HZGG/

http://www.amazon.de/Das-Orgelwerk-2-Wolfgang-Stockmeier-Organ/dp/B000H9HZGQ/

(As you can see at amazon.de: the boxes are about 16 € each. Prices that will make a true Dutchman happy. )

Why should anyone have a problem with legato?

[Harry]

If you can stand legato playing, then maybe Wolfgang Stockmeier (Membran) is another option.
He's also in a different league than the four you've already got.
Stockmeier is playing a dozen or so Kreienbrink instruments in Germany and they have an attractive fresh sound.

http://www.youtube.com/v/M6UtbtTluXM

http://www.amazon.com/Stockmeier-Das-Orgelwerk-1-Wolfgang/dp/B000H9HZGG/?tag=goodmusicguideco

http://www.amazon.com/Das-Orgelwerk-2-Wolfgang-Stockmeier-Organ/dp/B000H9HZGQ/?tag=goodmusicguideco

http://www.amazon.de/Stockmeier-Das-Orgelwerk-1-Wolfgang/dp/B000H9HZGG/

http://www.amazon.de/Das-Orgelwerk-2-Wolfgang-Stockmeier-Organ/dp/B000H9HZGQ/

(As you can see at amazon.de: the boxes are about 16 € each. Prices that will make a true Dutchman happy. )

Yes I have sampled the Stockmeier recordings, and apart from the good price range, I like the quietness in his playing. Everything unfolds in a unhurried way, so I might order these interpretations. Thank you again for remembering me about these Membran recordings.

[Wakefield]

Why should anyone have a problem with legato?

Because indiscriminately used isn't a historically informed trait in Baroque interpretations?

That being said, I have no problem with Stockmeier's use of legato. On the contrary, I consider that his recordings -from a spiritual standpoint- are some of the most openly uplifting that I have listened to.

[Harry]

Because indiscriminately used isn't a historically informed trait in Baroque interpretations?

That being said, I have no problem with Stockmeier's use of legato. On the contrary, I consider that his recordings -from a spiritual standpoint- are some of the most openly uplifting that I have listened to.

Good to hear. I will double my effort listening to them. Only 26 euro's for the set of 20 cd's. I think that is a deal.

[Wakefield]

Good to hear. I will double my effort listening to them. Only 26 euro's for the set of 20 cd's. I think that is a deal.

I think you have felt quite exactly the Stockmeier's essence: "I like the quietness in his playing. Everything unfolds in a unhurried way..." I think if those traits are valuable for you, probably Herrick would be also an interesting path to explore.

[Harry]

I think you have felt quite exactly the Stockmeier's essence: "I like the quietness in his playing. Everything unfolds in a unhurried way..." I think if those traits are valuable for you, probably Herrick would be also an interesting path to explore.

Wish I could get the Herrick recordings, those are on the top of my list, but they are OOP, and according to Hyperion they will not re-release them.
I have the Neumeister Chorale by him and I absolutely revel in them.

[Harry]

If I compare Andre Isoir and Stockmeier, I find they have a lot in common, be it that the Isoir recordings have a more profound character.  Same use of legato, also but less quietness, organs are better as the ones Stockmeier uses. More rubato also, a warmer sound overall.

[Wakefield]

Wish I could get the Herrick recordings, those are on the top of my list, but they are OOP, and according to Hyperion they will not re-release them.
I have the Neumeister Chorale by him and I absolutely revel in them.

I was lucky enough to buy on time the boxset released after the cycle was completed. Though Herrick isn't a favorite around here, I unreservedly like his interpretations.

[Wakefield]

If I compare Andre Isoir and Stockmeier, I find they have a lot in common, be it that the Isoir recordings have a more profound character.  Same use of legato, also but less quietness, organs are better as the ones Stockmeier uses. More rubato also, a warmer sound overall.

I'm not sure: Isoir is a lot more arbitrary, full of fugitive visions; deep, but disjointed. He would be as Stockmeier, but after a lysergic flight. 

[Mandryka]

I suppose legato is a matter of degree. I've never seen any historical discussion of this though, for all I know it could be an internet myth - if you know of anything I'd be interested in a pointer.  I was struck earlier this week by how much portato Foccroulle uses, for example, and he's interested in authentic performance I think.

[prémont]

I suppose legato is a matter of degree. I've never seen any historical discussion of this though, for all I know it could be an internet myth - if you know of anything I'd be interested in a pointer.  I was struck earlier this week by how much portato Foccroulle uses, for example, and he's interested in authentic performance I think.

What we are talking about here is - I suppose - long stretches of unbroken legato, i.e. no "air" between the notes at all. This way of articulation is surely unauthentic, when used indiscriminately, as Gordo writes. May I recommend the excellent treatise by Kooiman, Weinberger and Busch: Zur Interpretation der Orgelmusik J.S.Bachs, Edition Merseburger 1995.

[Sammy]

I was lucky enough to buy on time the boxset released after the cycle was completed. Though Herrick isn't a favorite around here, I unreservedly like his interpretations.

I acquired the Herrick recordings as they were first released and never regretted the purchases.

[Harry]

I acquired the Herrick recordings as they were first released and never regretted the purchases.

O, Boy I wished I had done that too

[Harry]

What we are talking about here is - I suppose - long stretches of unbroken legato, i.e. no "air" between the notes at all. This way of articulation is surely unauthentic, when used indiscriminately, as Gordo writes. May I recommend the excellent treatise by Kooiman, Weinberger and Busch: Zur Interpretation der Orgelmusik J.S.Bachs, Edition Merseburger 1995.

This I am reading!