Watch: Bach's Prelude and Fugue in D minor BWV 539
Wednesday, June 1, 2022
Daniel Moult plays the Silbermann organ of St Marien, Roetha
Today we're delighted to bring you a film of Daniel Moult playing Bach's Prelude and Fugue in D minor BWV 539 on the Silbermann organ of St Marien, Roetha. It's taken from the forthcoming film project 'Bach and Expression' by acclaimed filmmakers - and multiple DVD of the month recipients - Fugue State Films.
Beneath the video, Fugue State Films' Will Fraser explains a little more about what makes the instrument so interesting.
'Small pipe organs should never be underestimated as they are often more expressive than larger ones, and often have more impact in a usually small room than a large organ in a vast cathedral. The Silbermann organ in St Marien in Roetha has only one manual and a handful of stops but floods the small funeral church with sound, and is an ideal instrument to play certain smaller Bach pieces such as this Prelude and Fugue in D minor, BWV 539.
'The fugue is known as the "fiddle fugue" as it is an arrangement by Bach of one of his fugues for violin solo, and its chamber music feel is perfect for this instrument. In our film project "Bach and Expression', which includes documentaries and many filmed performances such as this, Daniel Moult and Martin Schmeding explore how to play expressively within historically informed parameters, with a particular emphasis on the way Bach and his contemporaries adapted pieces for particular instruments or events.'
You can find out more about the forthcoming film project, and how you can pre-order a copy, at Fugue State Film's website: fuguestatefilms.co.uk