Bach, J S: Chorale Prelude BWV726 'Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend'

The discrepancy between virtuosity, artistry and genius on the one hand and the reality of the musical profession on the other has probably never been more aptly expressed than in the Arnstadt church council´s criticism of the young Johann Sebastian Bach:" He confuses the congregation." He confused them with his chorale arrangements full of brilliant and ingenious ideas and his free organ works. Fortunately, posterity mostly sees Bach in quite a different light than his immediate contemporaries!

Walcha’s legendary Bach recording from the 1950s for Archiv made the Cappel organ world-famous and the famous Schnitger organ is once again in excellent condition. Harald Vogel and the MDG team have seized the opportunity to record early works by Bach using the latest recording techniques including the infamous Toccata in D minor.

Volume 7 of Margaret Phillips’ on-going and critically-acclaimed cycle of the complete organ works of JS Bach Two CD set at ‘two-for-one’ price, each disc is a self-contained recital.

This set features two very different instruments by two of the finest organ builders of Bach’s time, both beautifully restored in the last few years. CD 1 features the 1728 Zacharias Hildebrandt organ in St Jacobikirche, Sangerhausen. The second disc features the 1735 Gottfried Silbermann organ in the Petrikirche Freiberg.

Repertoire includes the Preludes and Fugues in G major, A minor and C minor and the great Passacaglia in C minor.