Bach, J S: Prelude & Fugue in B minor, BWV544

Volume 6 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 featuring major works, a trio sonata, a concerto and a selections of chorale preludes.

The first disc features one of the worlds most iconic historic organs, built in 1738 by Christian Müller, in St Bavo’s church in Haarlem. The second disc features the large 2004 Bernard Aubertin organ in St Louis-en-l’Île, Paris. Built in eighteenthcentury German style this instrument is a similar size to the one in Haarlem and offers a fascinating comparison.

Repertoire includes some of Bach’s largest works for organ, with the Prelude and Fugues in Eminor (‘Wedge’) and B minor at Haarlem and the Fantasia and Fugue in G minor at Paris.

The outstanding young organ virtuoso Cameron Carpenter burst on to the scene last year with an astonishing recording entitled “Revolutionary” (CD80711). Reviewers were fulsome in their praise of his gifts as a performer. In an interview, feature, and review in the Gramophone Jeremy Nicholas stated that his “rhythmic buoyancy, clarity of voicing, and sheer élan are quite masterly” in his interpretation of pieces by Dupré, and Demessieux. There was also an interview/feature in Classic FM magazine and cover feature in “Muso”. He was recently picked as one of the “New Stars of 2010” in Classic FM Magazine.

Unlike his first recording “Revolutionary” which was made on a virtual pipe organ, Cameron Carpenter’s second album for Telarc has been made on a large-scale acoustic instrument, the massive Aeolian-Skinner organ at New York’s Church of Saint Mary the Virgin. This CD/DVD two-disc album includes three preludes and fugues from J.S. Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier and five preludes and fugues from the major organ works of Bach. The DVD features performances on a Wurlitzer pipe organ built in the early 20th Century. It includes arrangements of Shostakovich’s Festive Overture, two pieces by George Gershwin, “The Alcotts”, from Charles Ives’ Concord Sonata, Astor Piazzola’s Libertango, Mozkowski’s Sparks (“Etincelles”), Schubert’s Erlkönig, Rachmaninov’s arrangement of Bach’s Violin Sonata No. 3 in E Major, and Carpenter’s own celebrated arrangement of Sousa’s The Stars and Stripes Forever.

Any collection of recordings by 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 fine alternative to travel 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 performances). Lionel Rogg, in this first of several planned sets, brings together many of the more extended works which are set as either a Fantasia, Prelude or Toccata followed by a Fugue and include many favourites including the ever popular Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565.

This new recording features some unique historical organs in Germany, which have a strong link with the great composer himself, organs which Bach might have known, and whose builders he greatly respected.

This 2CD contains the famous Schübler Chorales, concert pieces based on the chorale melodies from Bach’s Cantatas, and a selection of famous Preludes and Fugues, testimony of Bach’s consummate contrapuntal skills.

Matteo Messori is one of the leading Baroque organists of Europe; his previous recordings for Brilliant Classics (Kunst der Fuge, BC 94061 and Clavierübing, BC 94201) have been awarded 5 star reviews in international classical magazines. His Schütz edition is a recorded landmark for that still neglected master.

J.S. Bach is widely regarded as the father of the Baroque period. A master of vocal, keyboard, orchestral and chamber repertoire, he is one of music’s greatest legends – a man whose works, which were truly revolutionary for their time, continue to inspire generations of composers.

Bach’s virtuoso skill as an organist was world renowned, and he was particularly celebrated for his use of registration. Spanning 2 CDs, this compilation is dedicated to some of his bestknown Preludes and Fugues, and also features the celebrated Schübler Chorales. While the former works betray the composer’s unparalleled ability to give distinctive qualities to each of the fugal voices, the latter collection – compiled by the publisher Johann Georg Schübler in 1748 – is largely made up of chorales based on melodies from Bach’s cantatas, and was intended for concert performance. The celebrated Fantasia and Fugue in C minor BWV357 and Toccata and Fugue in D minor BWV538, which Bach himself is said to have held in high esteem, complete the line up.

One of Europe’s leading organists, Matteo Messori has recorded widely for Brilliant Classics. Here he combines energy with with artistic flair to deliver consummate readings of these engaging works: a mustbuy for the keyboard and Baroque connoisseur.

David Goode performs a grand selection of some of Bach’s best organ works – including the famed Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor – providing modern listeners with a unique chance to hear Bach’s music as congregations of that period may have done.

The Gottfried Silbermann organ of Freiberg cathedral is one of a handful of such 18th-century instruments (built during Bach’s lifetime) to have remained largely unmodified to this day. Bach’s work as an organ inspector shows that he tested and inaugurated a number of Silbermann’s organs in Germany and, although there is no record that he played this instrument, its sound is undoubtedly one that Bach would have recognised and composed for.

The organist and musicologist Hubert Meister died at the end of 2010 and in his memory MDG is making three of his recordings available for the first time on a double CD. Meister recorded the music from the period between 1701 and 1744 on Mathis organs in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Jacob Katsnelson, one of the most promising pianists of his generation, has won many prestigious piano competitions which have helped to launch his career as concert pianist. He brings a fresh and dynamic performance to these gems of Bach’s compositional work.