This CD admirably highlights the close relationship between French music and Bach's compositions. Ponsford has contributed an informative and scholarly booklet; he pays the listener the compliment of assuming he has a good working knowledge of harmony and music history (although I wonder how many Gramophone readers could describe a Neapolitan sixth?). I hope this disc won't be confined to university music departments or conservatoire organ students, as it deserves to be heard by a wider audience.
Ponsford's Bach performances have a natural simplicity of approach which is as enjoyable as the flamboyance of a Koopman. The simple registration of the C minor Fantasia is very effective; the gently varied colours of the Passacaglia work beautifully, and this piece receives a fine interpretation with some telling rubato. The French works are given dignified performances, appropriate to their sacred ethos, and there's some stylish ornamentation. Some listeners may find Ponsford a little too solemn, the tempos in the faster pieces being somewhat measured. However, this solemnity reaps benefits in De Grigny's beautiful Recit, and Raison's 'Offertoire' has appropriate swagger.
The choice of the Collins organ at Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh, was a good one as it possesses suitable colours for both French and German repertoire. There are some lovely sounds on this CD although the horizontal reeds in the French grand jeu movements can become wearisome after a while. The recording is very clear, but doesn't quite capture the warmth of the Greyfriars acoustic.'