J.S. Bach on the Organ

[Marc]

Seems as if Kooiman´s unfinished third cycle will become completed by some of his pupils and released at last. 

Links:
http://www.aeolus-music.com/ae_en/More/News-and-articles/Future-of-the-big-Bach-organ-music-SACD-project-started-with-Ewald-Kooiman

http://www.aeolus-music.com/ae_en/More/News-and-articles/New-SACD-recordings-for-the-Bach-Organ-Project

Brilliant news from Aeolus!
That would make a fine salute to and legacy for Ewald Kooiman!

[prémont]

My first impressions were that the 'younger' Kooiman was less exuberant than the 'older' Kooiman during his integral in the Nineties.

Yes, rather much less exuberant, in between almost pedantic in the Chorale-free works, whereas I find the Chorales beautifully expressive.

Do you know the precise dates of the recordings?

[Marc]

Yes, rather much less exuberant, in between almost pedantic in the Chorale-free works, whereas I find the Chorales beautifully expressive.

Yes, in general I prefer Kooiman in his 2nd integral.

Do you know the precise dates of the recordings?

I'm an old-fashioned man, and I wrote down the track-list, by using pen & paper. I was very very accurate to write down the Coronata labelnos. .... but I did NOT write down the year of production and/or recording.
But, if I'm not mistaken, I do recall that both discs were from the period 1984-1986. Let's say: a handful of years before he started his 2nd integral.

Btw: I found this Italian site, with some Kooiman discs still available (a.o. these two, plus some volumes of his 2nd integral):
http://www.discantica.it/5_output.php?genere=&repertorio=&casap=&cp=&strumento=&t=&casa=&compositore=&esecutore=ewald%20kooiman&titolo=&supporto=&page=0&limit=10

[Marc]

Tropical temperatures and atmosphere in the Netherlands .... wo soll ich fliehen hin?

Last Saturday I went to a nice and cool little church (Pelstergasthuiskerk, Groningen) to listen to the Schnitger/Hinsz/Freytag organ, played by Peter Westerbrink, for a German baroque programme (a.o. Böhm, Walther, Bach & Krebs).



I had one spiritual hour with about 15 other organ fools.

Here are some audio clips of the organ, with Janny de Vries playing Bach:

Allein Gott in der Höh' sei Ehr BWV 662
http://www.mediafire.com/?5jumxjzomemwtwm

Allabreve in D-major BWV 589
http://www.mediafire.com/?5etdnyhjq2wdd2c

Maybe a bit too spicy for some of you, but I think this instrument still sounds like a full-flavoured North-German baroque organ .... as far as I'm allowed to conclude that.

[Antoine Marchand]

Is it just my idea or this looks like a great news?





After having recorded the complete organ works of Bach, Bernard Foccroulle rounds off his musical voyage with the Art of Fugue; Bach himself did not state on which instrument he intended the work to be performed. A true example of ars perfecta, the Art of Fugue is not simply a demonstration of contrapuntal theory intended for musicians adept in refined polyphonic technique; each piece is a small jewel, one whose harmonic language and expression are revealed to all who listen carefully.


Samples here

[Bulldog]

Is it just my idea or this looks like a great news?





After having recorded the complete organ works of Bach, Bernard Foccroulle rounds off his musical voyage with the Art of Fugue; Bach himself did not state on which instrument he intended the work to be performed. A true example of ars perfecta, the Art of Fugue is not simply a demonstration of contrapuntal theory intended for musicians adept in refined polyphonic technique; each piece is a small jewel, one whose harmonic language and expression are revealed to all who listen carefully.


Samples here

Based on the extended samples, it's excellent news.

[prémont]

Is it just my idea or this looks like a great news?

Having listened to this only once so far (received it only three days ago), It may be a bit too early to say that much, but this is a very austere and ascetic interpretation, more so than his earlier integral. He uses very simple registrations - almost only 8´and 4´stops and almost exclusively principals or flutes, and there is no use of the pedal except in Cpt. VII (for the augmented statements of the principal subject - like Corti). This is in principle to my taste as is his smooth and very little detached articulation, but the result is in practice rather vague. I would prefer more boldness and virility in his playing. And there is no tendency to create a kind of climax in the course of the work, even if he must have intended a listening at one sitting judged from the somewhat strange sequence in which he plays the Cpt.s. Fortunately there is no end Chorale, but he adds another version of the unfinished Fugue with his own very short conclusion played a  tad more bold  and strangely enough now with the use of the pedal. The organ is a modern Thomas organ modelled upon the baroque organ building in Thüringen (Trost), and the recorded sound is good.

[Antoine Marchand]

Having listened to this only once so far (received it only three days ago), It may be a bit too early to say that much, but this is a very austere and ascetic interpretation, more so than his earlier integral. He uses very simple registrations - almost only 8´and 4´stops and almost exclusively principals or flutes, and there is no use of the pedal except in Cpt. VII (for the augmented statements of the principal subject - like Corti). This is in principle to my taste as is his smooth and very little detached articulation, but the result is in practice rather vague. I would prefer more boldness and virility in his playing. And there is no tendency to create a kind of climax in the course of the work, even if he must have intended a listening at one sitting judged from the somewhat strange sequence in which he plays the Cpt.s. Fortunately there is no end Chorale, but he adds another version of the unfinished Fugue with his own very short conclusion played a  tad more bold  and strangely enough now with the use of the pedal. The organ is a modern Thomas organ modelled upon the baroque organ building in Thüringen (Trost), and the recorded sound is good.

That was fast, Premont! I suppose you bought the set on the label's website, taking advantage of their free shipping for all orders.

As always, your message results very useful and informative and, for sure, one of the first (or the first) written on the web about this set. Additionally, it confirms some impressions of mine after to listen to some samples provided on the label's website; especially, an extraordinarily suitable sense of austerity and a not extremely detached articulation (which seems clear from the Contrapunctus 1).   

Thanks for your comment. 

[prémont]

That was fast, Premont! I suppose you bought the set on the label's website, taking advantage of their free shipping for all orders.

No, I got it from Amazon.fr:

http://www.amazon.fr/Art-fugue-l-Jean-S%C3%A9bastien-Bach/dp/B003MY55BK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1280675975&sr=1-2

"Livraison" for some reason 9½ Euro.

[Antoine Marchand]

"Livraison" for some reason 9½ Euro.

Even so, cheaper than Ricercar (EUR 19 v/s 25).

[Marc]

Having listened to this only once so far (received it only three days ago), It may be a bit too early to say that much, but this is a very austere and ascetic interpretation, more so than his earlier integral. He uses very simple registrations - almost only 8´and 4´stops and almost exclusively principals or flutes, and there is no use of the pedal except in Cpt. VII (for the augmented statements of the principal subject - like Corti). This is in principle to my taste as is his smooth and very little detached articulation, but the result is in practice rather vague. I would prefer more boldness and virility in his playing. And there is no tendency to create a kind of climax in the course of the work, even if he must have intended a listening at one sitting judged from the somewhat strange sequence in which he plays the Cpt.s. Fortunately there is no end Chorale, but he adds another version of the unfinished Fugue with his own very short conclusion played a  tad more bold  and strangely enough now with the use of the pedal. The organ is a modern Thomas organ modelled upon the baroque organ building in Thüringen (Trost), and the recorded sound is good.

Considered this a (modest) positive advice,
and also could not resist the prize.

Ordered!

[prémont]

Considered this a (modest) positive advice,
and also could not resist the prize.

Ordered!

Nor could I have resisted it, whatever the rewievers said.

[Marc]

Nor could I have resisted it, whatever the rewievers said.

Well, as the thread title claims Bach's organ rocks works!

[prémont]

Well, as the thread title claims Bach's organ rocks works!

Yes, it is the organists which do not always work, even if they usually work hard.

[Marc]

Yes, it is the organists which do not always work, even if they usually work hard.

Well, I won't be harsh against Foccroulle. I value him sincerely as a Bach interpreter.
Btw: I'm off now .... some other things upon my sleeve.
Good day or night to ye all!

[Marc]

Had another fine organ afternoon today.
Sietze de Vries provided an organ demonstration in the Martinikerk, Groningen. Some stunning improvisations (a.o. on the Dutch folksong Merck toch hoe sterck and on Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott) and an impressive Praeludium & Fuge in e-moll BWV 548.
Enthousiastic reactions from the tourists and visitors!

Right now, back home, I'm listening to a new and very worthwhile Martini disc by Jelte Hulzebos.



Bach's Prelude & Fugue in B-minor BWV 244 is not on the disc, but available for download on his own website(http://www.jeltehulzebos.nl/) or here:

http://www.mediafire.com/?kra3n4qp6eva6ky

[Marc]

Visited a nice concert by Elly Kooiman at the Dorpskerk in Peize this afternoon.
The organ she played was a Verbeeck (hoofdwerk)/Schnitger (pedals)/Hinsz (rugwerk) instrument.

Here are some sound examples, taken from the OOP Bach integral by Bram Beekman.

Prelude in A-minor BWV 569
http://www.mediafire.com/?k23twkzaiwt5zh3

Ach, Got und Herr BWV 714
http://www.mediafire.com/?a4mj0qd805mozfy

Allein Gott in der Höh' sei Ehr BWV 717
http://www.mediafire.com/?v12ot1zx183t6kz

Fantasia in C-Major BWV 570
http://www.mediafire.com/?xhnr24sbu8oe59d

Enjoy!

[Coopmv]

Anyone knows if the tracks in this box set are really SACD music or are they just regular CD music crammed into a few SACD's?

[Que]

Anyone knows if the tracks in this box set are really SACD music or are they just regular CD music crammed into a few SACD's?

The latter !

Q

[Coopmv]

The latter !

Q

Thanks Q.  That was what I read from a reviewer on Amazon.  BIS really misrepresented itself here.  I already have all the Fagius' Bach Organ Works in that mammoth 155-CD Bach set on BC.