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Composer Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750)
Performer Simon Preston (Organ)
Period Baroque
Country Germany
Live/Studio Studio
Recording Date 09/1988
Venue Bonn, Kreuzbergkirche (Kreuzberg Church, Bonn)
1-2. Toccata and Fugue, for organ in D minor, BWV 565 (BC J37) (8:29)
Common Name Toccata And Fugue For Organ
Catalog No. BWV 565
Genre Baroque Period / Toccata & Fugue
Date Written by 1708; Germany
1. Toccata: Adagio (2:33)
2. Fugue (5:54)
3-5. Pièce d'orgue (Fantasia), for organ in G major, BWV 572 (BC J83) (7:13)
Catalog No. BWV 572
Genre Baroque Period / Fantasy
Date Written by 1706-1712; Arnstadt, Germany
3. I. Très vitement (1:19)
4. I. Gravement (4:46)
5. III. Lentement (1:28)
6. Vom himmel hoch, da komm ich her (I), canonic variations on the Christmas hymn for organ, BWV 769: Variatio 1: Nel canone all'ottava (1:35)
Common Name V, Vom Himmel Hoch Da Komm Ich Her I Canonic Variations on The Christmas Hymn For Organ
Catalog No. BWV 769
Genre Baroque Period / Variations
Date Written 06/1747; Leipzig, Germany
7. Vom himmel hoch, da komm ich her (II), canonic variations on the Christmas hymn for organ (early version), BWV 769a: Variation 2: Alio modo, nel canone alla quinta (1:29)
Genre Baroque Period / Canon / Variations
Date Written by 1747; Leipzig, Germany
8-10. Vom himmel hoch, da komm ich her (I), canonic variations on the Christmas hymn for organ, BWV 769 (8:22)
Common Name V, Vom Himmel Hoch Da Komm Ich Her I Canonic Variations on The Christmas Hymn For Organ
Catalog No. BWV 769
Genre Baroque Period / Variations
Date Written 06/1747; Leipzig, Germany
8. Variation 3: Canone alla settima (2:25)
9. Variation 4: Per augmentationem, nel canone all'ottava (2:54)
10. Variation 5: L'altra sorte del canone al rovescio: 1) alla sesta, 2) alla terza, 3) alla seconda e 4) alla non (3:03)
11-12. Prelude and Fugue, for organ in D major ("Little"), BWV 532 (BC J13, 54, 70) (9:24)
Common Name Prelude And Fugue For Organ
Catalog No. BWV 532
Genre Baroque Period / Prelude & Fugue
Date Written by 1708-1717; Germany (1710)
11. I. Prelude (4:25)
12. II. Fugue (5:00)
13-16. Pastorale ("Pastorella") for organ in F major, BWV 590 (BC J81) (10:24)
Common Name Pastorale For Organ
Catalog No. BWV 590
Genre Baroque Period
Date Written after 1710-1720; Weimar, Germany
13. 1. in F major (2:08)
14. 2. in C major (2:20)
15. 3. in C minor (2:24)
16. 4. in F major (3:51)
17-18. Prelude and Fugue, for organ in E flat major ("St. Anne;" Clavier-Übung III/26), BWV 552 (BC J16) (14:17)
Common Name Prelude And Fugue For Organ
Catalog No. BWV 552
Genre Baroque Period / Prelude & Fugue
Date Written 1739; Leipzig, Germany
17. I. Prelude (Preludium pro organo pleno) (8:07)
18. II. Fugue (Fuga a 5 con pedale pro organo pleno) (6:10)
Review
Simon Preston's performances of Bach's organ works are among the finest in Deutsche Grammophon's catalog and stand as examples of how effective this music is when played without affectation. This disc opens with the ubiquitous Toccata and Fugue in D minor, taken slower than is usually heard, but played crisply to clarify details others often rush past for show. The sprightly opening of the Fantasia in G major leads to a majestic contrapuntal section, with suspensions at nearly every bar line. However, Preston's con moto tempo prevents tedium. A late work of contrapuntal mastery exceeded only by the Musical Offering and the Art of Fugue, Bach's Canonic variations for organ on "Vom Himmel Hoch da komm ich her" is given a bright and lucid performance. The amusing Prelude and Fugue in D major is built on the flimsiest scraps, though these generate astonishingly complex music. The Pastorale in F major, gentle and unadorned, has a light registration of flutes and reeds. Concluding with the expansive "St. Anne" Prelude and Fugue, Preston plays with clipped rhythms and in a lively tempo to propel the music to its glorious summation. The sound of the recording is excellent, though the clicking of the organ's mechanical action is sometimes intrusive.
by Blair Sanderson | 
