BMV 565 Toccata and Fugue

[op.110]

I don't know any organists and want to purchase a recording of Toccata and Fugue in D minor BMV 565. Suggestions? (I want a recording that, if possible, will blow my mind.)

[PSmith08]

I think you mean BWV 565, unless you want a driver's license. 

In any event, if you want a really nice set of Bach's organ music, there is Karl Richter's three-disc DG Originals set. If you're just after BWV 565, and that's a bit of a mistake, in my opinion, as there is a lot in Bach's works for organ, then Helmut Walcha's single DG Originals disc will suffice. I tend to prefer Walcha's interpretations of Bach generally, so I'd probably recommend the latter. That's not to say, though, that Richter doesn't have a lot going for him. Ton Koopman has a nice-enough recording, but it has a bit too much of the church ambiance to it.

[Don]

I don't know any organists and want to purchase a recording of Toccata and Fugue in D minor BMV 565. Suggestions? (I want a recording that, if possible, will blow my mind.)

I think that the Leonhardt on Sony/Seon could blow your mind - it's on a 2-cd Bach set available for under $10 from Amazon.  Totally dirt-cheap is an Amadis/Bach disc played by Julia Brown who does a great job.

[Que]

I would recommend Koopman too.

This is a very nice set.



Q

[Holden]

Virgil Fox does an amazing version. If you can get the live San Francisco recording then you've done well and also got some other great Bach as well.

My other favourite is E Power Biggs on Sony

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

I think you mean BWV 565, unless you want a driver's license. 

In any event, if you want a really nice set of Bach's organ music, there is Karl Richter's three-disc DG Originals set. If you're just after BWV 565, and that's a bit of a mistake, in my opinion, as there is a lot in Bach's works for organ, then Helmut Walcha's single DG Originals disc will suffice. I tend to prefer Walcha's interpretations of Bach generally, so I'd probably recommend the latter. That's not to say, though, that Richter doesn't have a lot going for him. Ton Koopman has a nice-enough recording, but it has a bit too much of the church ambiance to it.

And I thought I was the ONLY one here who appreciated Karl Richter's artistry. Well, I guess that makes two of us out of what (?) 2000+ members. It seems he is considered passee in the extreme. I've always felt that his interpretations were very beautiful, with the right balance of authenticity, warmth and technical virtuosity (his ornamentations are second to none!). His recording of the Goldberg's on DG (70s-ish LP) is my favorite of all time and is every bit as daring and original as Gould's. I even own his original London / Decca mono LPs from the early 50s where he plays the beautiful organ at Victoria Hall in Geneva Switzerland. I highly recommend the CD resissue (very visceral and powerful sound on this mono recording!)

[Guido]

Personally, I fully subscribe to the school of thought that says that if it was by Bach, then it wasn't originally meant as an organ piece. The whole thing is perfectly playable on a single violin, and is done so beautifully on Andrew Manze's recording of the Bach violin Sonatas (which I otherwise thought were a little lacking). If it is originally an organ work, then it is probably not likely to be by Bach.

[Harry Collier]

Personally, I fully subscribe to the school of thought that says that if it was by Bach, then it wasn't originally meant as an organ piece. The whole thing is perfectly playable on a single violin, and is done so beautifully on Andrew Manze's recording of the Bach violin Sonatas (which I otherwise thought were a little lacking). If it is originally an organ work, then it is probably not likely to be by Bach.

The only version I have of BWV 565 is one played (very well) by Maxim Vengerov. It sounds good, but this will probably not suit our organ lover.

[Larry Rinkel]

Personally, I fully subscribe to the school of thought that says that if it was by Bach, then it wasn't originally meant as an organ piece. The whole thing is perfectly playable on a single violin, and is done so beautifully on Andrew Manze's recording of the Bach violin Sonatas (which I otherwise thought were a little lacking). If it is originally an organ work, then it is probably not likely to be by Bach.

Unquestionably some of the figuration in the toccata, as well as the design of the fugue theme, is violinistic. But though the authorship of the piece has been questioned, it is still a pretty terrific work. And Bach was known to make transcriptions of his own violin works for other media (e.g., the Sinfonia to Cantata 29 is a transcription of the prelude to the E major solo violin partita). As for recordings, I'm sure Virgil Fox would blow out your speakers if that's what you want, but I lean towards E. Power Biggs and Peter Hurford.

[PSmith08]

And I thought I was the ONLY one here who appreciated Karl Richter's artistry. Well, I guess that makes two of us out of what (?) 2000+ members. It seems he is considered passee in the extreme. I've always felt that his interpretations were very beautiful, with the right balance of authenticity, warmth and technical virtuosity (his ornamentations are second to none!). His recording of the Goldberg's on DG (70s-ish LP) is my favorite of all time and is every bit as daring and original as Gould's. I even own his original London / Decca mono LPs from the early 50s where he plays the beautiful organ at Victoria Hall in Geneva Switzerland. I highly recommend the CD resissue (very visceral and powerful sound on this mono recording!)

Eh? No one told me Karl Richter was passé. Apparently, the judges of taste have not bothered to listen to too many of his records. His reading of BWV 538 ("Dorian") is impressive in all the right ways. That seems, though, to be par for his course. In fact, in addition to his organ stuff, I'm very fond of his recording of BWV 140. It's not HIP, not in the silly doctrinaire way that some other recordings are (for good or for ill), but Richter seems to have a lot of respect for Bach - regardless of instrumentation and tempo. That's what matters. Richter obviously put a lot of thought into his Bach, which I cannot say for every adherent of the OVPP-and-as-fast-as-possible crowd. There is a very nice bargain disc, by the way, if anyone doesn't want to track down his cantata sets, that has BWV 140 and the Magnificat.

What's next? Klemperer's Matthäus-Passion called "uncool"? Fournier's cello suites not hip, though they're assuredly not HIP?

[orbital]

The only version I have of BWV 565 is one played (very well) by Maxim Vengerov. It sounds good, but this will probably not suit our organ lover.

The piece works horrible on the piano IMO. I've heard two versions Demidenko and Nikolayeva. They play Busoni's transcription but it is not convincing at all. Even with his additional harmonics it sounds thin on the piano  Strange to hear that a single line can sound good for this music.

[Soundproof]

I'll trust Fournier's cello suites are trend-resistant.

I have a few Werner Jacob versions of the BMV 565, and other works for the church organ. There's a full Box Set, quite expensive - but you can also buy extracts. Great playing and wonderful recordings - the project was begun as an official recording of Bach's works for the organ, with lots of money being devoted to getting it right.
http://maxalbums.com/discography/K90/#B00004YA0W

[PSmith08]

I'll trust Fournier's cello suites are trend-resistant.

That's probably right, though there are some convincing HIP versions out there.

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

Eh? No one told me Karl Richter was passé. Apparently, the judges of taste have not bothered to listen to too many of his records. His reading of BWV 538 ("Dorian") is impressive in all the right ways. That seems, though, to be par for his course. In fact, in addition to his organ stuff, I'm very fond of his recording of BWV 140. It's not HIP, not in the silly doctrinaire way that some other recordings are (for good or for ill), but Richter seems to have a lot of respect for Bach - regardless of instrumentation and tempo. That's what matters. Richter obviously put a lot of thought into his Bach, which I cannot say for every adherent of the OVPP-and-as-fast-as-possible crowd. There is a very nice bargain disc, by the way, if anyone doesn't want to track down his cantata sets, that has BWV 140 and the Magnificat.

Yes, I quite agree. You do realize however you're preaching to the choir? I said I liked his performances!  In fact, he's one of my favorite musicians of all time and was equally talented as a conductor, organist, and harpsichordist. Few people have done more for Bach's music than Richter. His recordings of the cantatas are still my favorites--I own most of the Archiv LPs

The reason I say he is passee is that I very rarely see him discussed here or anywhere.

[PSmith08]

Yes, I quite agree. You do realize however you're preaching to the choir? I said I liked his performances!  In fact, he's one of my favorite musicians of all time and was equally talented as a conductor, organist, and harpsichordist. Few people have done more for Bach's music than Richter. His recordings of the cantatas are still my favorites--I own most of the Archiv LPs

The reason I say he is passee is that I very rarely see him discussed here or anywhere.

Sometimes your voice carries when you preach to the choir. 

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

 

[Harry Collier]

What's next? Klemperer's Matthäus-Passion called "uncool"? Fournier's cello suites not hip, though they're assuredly not HIP?

Please don't tempt them.

[Don]

The only version I have of BWV 565 is one played (very well) by Maxim Vengerov. It sounds good, but this will probably not suit our organ lover.

It likely wouldn't suit any Bach organ enthusiast.  Personally, I don't think that the full flavor of BWV 565 can be had on the piano or violin.  Only the king of instruments does the trick.

[Marc]

BWV 565?

Not by Bach.

   





   



 



   

Post scriptum :
I prefer Leonhardt (mentioned before), but I also like to be blown away by Marie-Claire Alain, au grande orgue Schwenkedel de la Collégiale de Saint Donat.