Bach, J S: Fantasia in G major, BWV572

Any collection of recordings of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) must include a good proportion of his compositions for the organ on which he must have been a master-performer and for which he provided a treasure trove of works. With organs requiring large acoustics they are usually to be found in churches, but such is the expense of maintaining them and the buildings in which they are housed that some are falling in to a state of disrepair or are being removed to be replaced by modern electrical or electronic instruments which, for all their good workmanship, completely fail to match the majesty of the original. Recordings, therefore, on a fine Hi-fi system are a superb alternative to travelling long distances to sit on often uncomfortable pews in cold churches (however that is not to say that they should completely replace the chance of hearing an original in real life, like other forms of music a live performance has added dimensions, it is just that it is becoming harder to attend such occasions). Lionel Rogg, in this second of several planned sets, brings together the remainder of the more extended works which are either a Fantasia, Prelude or Toccata followed by a Fugue, together with works which are Fantasias and Preludes without Fugues and some Fugues on their own.

The critically-acclaimed 5CD set King of Instruments is now reissued as five individual CDs retaining the original liner notes and recollections of Dame Gillian on the making of these seminal recordings.

Comprising professors and band directors, the Taiwan Wind Ensemble is a leading international exponent of the wind repertory, not least in its exciting series of commissions. On this disc it presents a selection of music of orchestrations and originals from around the world. There are a variety of overtures and evocative dances from Bach to Bernstein, as well as Alfred Reed’s richly colorful Armenian Dances. They are complemented by Taiwanese composer Chia-Ying Chiang’s mysterious and beautiful recent composition A Chasing After The Wind, which takes its title from Ecclesiastes.

The programme on this recording includes some of J.S. Bach's most famous organ works, as well as a number of chorale fantasias, including one discovered quite recently. Indeed, the opening bars of “Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hält” were all that we knew of the score of that piece until March 2008, when a fair copy turned up at a public auction...

This collection of works from the baroque, classical and early romantic periods, demonstrates the enormous range of the large Holzhey organ at the former Abbey church in Rot an der Rot. Played by organ expert Franz Raml, we can hear the instrument in all its glory.

The organ in the church of Leufsta Bruk (north of Uppsala) was built in 1726-28 by Johan Niclas Cahman, Sweden's foremost organ maker at the time. It is without comparison the most outstanding among the maintained baroque organs in Sweden. It has recently undergone a thorough restoration in order to bring it, as far as possible, back to its original state. Therefore, this CD demonstrates the sound and musical possibilities of the organ in all its former glory. Moreover, professor Fagius likes to show how congenially this instrument conveys J.S. Bach's matchless music.

In addition to the commentary by professor Fagius, the booklet contains beautiful colour photos of the organ and also of the interior and surroundings of the church.

The present church building was completed in 1690 and sits on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. Both the Palace of Holyroodhouse and Edinburgh Castle lie within the Parish of Canongate, as does the Scottish Parliament. Canongate Kirk is also recognised as the Military Church in Scotland's Capital City. Considerable changes to the interior were carried out after World War II when two major 19th century additions to the church were removed: the wall which blocked off the nave from the apse; and the side galleries. At the same time, new furnishings were presented: particularly the stalls in the apse, the Royal Pew, the Governor's Pew and the Choir Stalls. The organ was designed and built by Th. Frobenius of Copenhagen, Denmark and is situated in the gallery over the entrance. It is a memorial to The Very Reverend Ronald Selby Wright CVO, TD, DD, FRSE, who was Minister at Canongate from 1937 to 1977, and was dedicated on Sunday 15 November 1998.