Est 1923

Bach Organ Partitas

Record and Artist Details

Composer or Director: Johann Sebastian Bach

Label: DG

Media Format: CD or Download

Media Runtime: 54

Mastering:

DDD

Catalogue Number: 429 775-2GH

Tracks:

Composition Artist Credit
Chorale Variations, Movement: Partite diverse sopra O Gott, du frommer Gott, BWV767 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Simon Preston, Organ
Chorale Variations, Movement: Partita diverse sopra Sei gegrüsset, Jesu gütig, BWV768 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Simon Preston, Organ
Chorale Variations, Movement: Partite diverse sopra Ach, was soll ich Sünder m770 (doubtful) Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Simon Preston, Organ
Chorale Variations, Movement: Partite diverse sopra Christe, der du bist der helV766 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Simon Preston, Organ
Of the six sets of variations on Lutheran chorale melodies attributed to Bach, two are omitted from this disc. Allein Gott in der Hoh sei Ehr' is now known to be partly or wholly by A. N. Vetter while Simon Preston included the great canonic variations on Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her in an earlier Bach disc for DG ((CD) 427 668-2GH, 3/90). It's a pity that he didn't permit himself a little duplication (theoretically there is room on this disc) for his playing here is at its very best; and Simon Preston's best in Bach is truly formidable.
The organ (a 1627 Lorentz, reconstructed by Marcussen) makes some delightful sounds. At heart it's a most gentle creature and Preston reveals to us some of its charms with registrations planned with exemplary care and very little repetition. We encounter a captivating reed, as delicate as the finest porcelain miniature (Var. 3 of O Gott, du frommer Gott), the purest of flutes lovingly embraced by a subtle tremulant (Var. 8 of the same work) and a whole host of simply magical colours. Frequent use of 16-foot manual stops compensates for the lack of pedals in most of these variations (perhaps in Ach, was soll ich Sunder machen? this does produce a little too much deadweight). Only in the final variation of Sei gegrusset do we encounter full organ; a sound as stirring and red-blooded as any organ could hope to muster.
Such a concentration on small sounds as well as a wide overall dynamic range has certainly tested the DG engineers' skills. But they have achieved an outstanding result; a model of organ recording, clearly focused organ sound with an ideal acoustic backdrop. I found a slight upward adjustment of the volume control revealed some particularly vivid results but at normal levels even the softest stops could be heard with impressive clarity.'

Bach Organ Partitas

Chorale Variations, Movement: Partite diverse sopra O Gott, du frommer Gott, BWV767

Chorale Variations, Movement: Partita diverse sopra Sei gegrüsset, Jesu gütig, BWV768

Chorale Variations, Movement: Partite diverse sopra Ach, was soll ich Sünder m770 (doubtful)

Chorale Variations, Movement: Partite diverse sopra Christe, der du bist der helV766

Discover the world's largest classical music catalogue with Presto Music. 

Stream on Presto Music | Buy from Presto Music

Gramophone Print

  • Print Edition

From £6.67 / month

Subscribe

Gramophone Digital Club

  • Digital Edition
  • Digital Archive
  • Reviews Database
  • Full website access

From £8.75 / month

Subscribe

                              

If you are a library, university or other organisation that would be interested in an institutional subscription to Gramophone please click here for further information.