J.S. Bach on the Organ

[Mandryka]

Very animated talk by Winsemius on 541

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8TdvbLV_bM&ab_channel=NetherlandsBachSociety

[Mandryka]

Speaking of way too mannered playing/speaking, Jacobsen reminds me of the hilariously pompous French recitation at the start of Baumont's Chambonnieres Pièces de clavessin recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRZqQXupvaQ

Ha! That's so bad it's good.

[Elk]

Last Sunday on CBC Radio, on a program entitled This Is My Music, Angela Hewitt played her choices, one of which was Bernard Lagacé's performance of Bach'S Gm Fugue from the Great, BWV 542. It prompted me to listen to all fourteen versions I have: Walcha, HM Rogg, KMK Kooiman, Aeolis Kooiman, Herrick, Richter, Murray, Naxos Rubsam, Biggs, Kee, Kästner, Hurford, Bardon, and Higgs- for me fun.

The KMK Kooiman was very good. His later Aeolis sounded to me better in stereo, rather disconcerting in surround sound. The 1954 Richter was surprisingly excellent, despite its dated sound. The Kee too was excellent. My favourite, though, was Herrick, not only for his performance, but the recorded sound- magnificent!

[Anooj]

What's the consensus on Marie-Claire Alain's first cycle? It's barely been mentioned in this thread.

[prémont]

What's the consensus on Marie-Claire Alain's first cycle? It's barely been mentioned in this thread.

I heard most of it in my early youth in the late1960es. By then I found it a bit earthbound and workman-like and preferred others like Heiller, Walcha and Kraft. It was unavailable for a long time and wasn't released on CD until recently. To day I rate it higher - and even higher the more I listen to it. Particularly I find the playing of the chorale-bound works most often meaningful and expressive while the "free" works are played in a more unobligated playful way. Being Danish myself I find of course her choice of organs very interesting. Generally I think she was at her peak when she made her second cycle which I find more successful than her first - also because of the higher degree of historical information of the playing.

[Que]

What's the consensus on Marie-Claire Alain's first cycle? It's barely been mentioned in this thread.

I don't think there is anyone here more qualified to give his assessment in this matter than our premont! 

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Any artistic or historical merit in this box set? Mostly Eastern-European organs in the set?

[vers la flamme]

These are the Bach organ CDs I've enjoyed in the past 12 months:







I wonder if any of the organ aficionados among us find any merit in these performances. I know next to nothing about the instrument or repertoire except that I enjoy it immensely from time to time.

[prémont]

Any artistic or historical merit in this box set? Mostly Eastern-European organs in the set?

Even if the organs weren't "historically" restored at the time of recording I think the Gottfried Silbermann sound shines through better than expected. The organists are not that HIP and represent the typical 1950-60 transitional school, but their artistic choices are well-considered and I would characterize most of them as great performing artists. The recorded sound is good for it's time. All in all I find the set both musically and historically interesting. 

[prémont]

These are the Bach organ CDs I've enjoyed in the past 12 months:







I wonder if any of the organ aficionados among us find any merit in these performances. I know next to nothing about the instrument or repertoire except that I enjoy it immensely from time to time.

Wolfgang Rübsam is to me always interesting listening. He has indeed his own way with the music, but generally it's illuminating if you have got the patience to listen carefully a couple of times.

Matteo Messori's informed playing is also always interesting listening. Well, in the CÜ III I think he drags a bit, but again if you have the patience to listen carefully you will become rewarded. I shall use the occation to recommend his excellent Art of Fugue recording (on harpsichord).

Piet Kee made a handful of Bach recordings on great Dutch baroque  organs. The one on your picture is IMO the weakest of them (displaying a strange lack of concentration in his playing) but the others are wery fine.

[vers la flamme]

Wolfgang Rübsam is to me always interesting listening. He has indeed his own way with the music, but generally it's illuminating if you have got the patience to listen carefully a couple of times.

Matteo Messori's informed playing is also always interesting listening. Well, in the CÜ III I think he drags a bit, but again if you have the patience to listen carefully you will become rewarded. I shall use the occation to recommend his excellent Art of Fugue recording (on harpsichord).

Piet Kee made a handful of Bach recordings on great Dutch baroque  organs. The one on your picture is IMO the weakest of them (displaying a strange lack of concentration in his playing) but the others are wery fine.

I like the idea of listening to Bach on historic Dutch organs, I will try and find some more of the series. I do have Messori's Art of Fugue, it is indeed excellent. Maybe I'll listen to it tonight after work. Thanks for your reply!

[DavidW]

I like Rubsam, but he is an acquired taste.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Even if the organs weren't "historically" restored at the time of recording I think the Gottfried Silbermann sound shines through better than expected. The organists are not that HIP and represent the typical 1950-60 transitional school, but their artistic choices are well-considered and I would characterize most of them as great performing artists. The recorded sound is good for it's time. All in all I find the set both musically and historically interesting. 

Sounds good! Thank you for the insights. I will get it when the price is low!

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Nice effort and nice playing, but organs maynot be ideal instruments for the French Suites.

[prémont]

Nice effort and nice playing, but organs maynot be ideal instruments for the French Suites.

Completely agreed. To me the French suites are intimate domestic clavichord music.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Completely agreed. To me the French suites are intimate domestic clavichord music.

Would it have sounded better if he had sustained notes often?
How about WTC by organs?

[prémont]

Would it have sounded better if he had sustained notes often?

Probably not - I don't know the recording.

I know two different organ recordings of Bach's keyboard partitas, and I don't think the organ does these works fair justice.

How about WTC by organs?

The WTC, especially the fugues, and Bach's fugues in general are IMO relatively suitable for organ rendering due to the instrument's special possibility of distinct voicing. Six and a half different CD versions of WTC on organ have been released to date, the best of these IMO is Naoya Otsuka on the Waon label playing a chamber organ.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

The WTC, especially the fugues, and Bach's fugues in general are IMO relatively suitable for organ rendering due to the instrument's special possibility of distinct voicing. Six and a half different CD versions of WTC on organ have been released to date, the best of these IMO is Naoya Otsuka on the Waon label playing a chamber organ.

What's your second favorite? Though the builder of the chamber organ is my FB friend, the sound doesn't appeal to my PERSONAL taste much.

[JBS]

Probably not - I don't know the recording.

I know two different organ recordings of Bach's keyboard partitas, and I don't think the organ does these works fair justice.

The WTC, especially the fugues, and Bach's fugues in general are IMO relatively suitable for organ rendering due to the instrument's special possibility of distinct voicing. Six and a half different CD versions of WTC on organ have been released to date, the best of these IMO is Naoya Otsuka on the Waon label playing a chamber organ.

Six and a half?

Whose is it? By half do you mean part on organ and part on other instruments?

I do prefere AoF with an instrumenarium that distinguishes voices, but IIRC I only have 2 on organ--Gould and (I think) Isoir. And I don't particularly like the Gould.

[prémont]

What's your second favorite? Though the builder of the chamber organ is my FB friend, the sound doesn't appeal to my PERSONAL taste much.

I have no particular objection as to the sound of the organ, but my recommendation is first and foremost about the musician.

The five ½ others are

Bernard Lagacé

Louis Thiry

Robert Costin

Daniele Boccaccio

Frédéric Desenclos

and an individual recording of book II by Christoph Bossert

And Robert Levin and Daniel Chorzempa play a few of the prel. & fugues on the organ in their complete WTC recordings.

My own preference of these is Louis Thiry with a human and well sounding version on a suitably small organ, but Frédéric Desenclos may be the most "organistic" of them. His interpretation is a bit "strict" and reminds me sometimes of Helmut Walcha. Lagacé is reliable but lacks inner tension when needed. The same may be said about Bossert. Costin and Boccaccio haven't done much for me.