Bach, J S: Prelude & 'Fiddle' Fugue in D minor, BWV539

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 final volume in Margaret Phillips’ critically-acclaimed survey of the complete Bach organ works, includes the rarely-recorded ‘Neumeister’ chorale preludes, together with a selection of other works, including some of Bach’s best-loved organ music, such as the 4th Trio Sonata, and the brilliant and virtuoso Preludes & Fugues in D major (BWV 532) and A minor (BWV 543).

The ‘Neumeister’ chorale preludes, discovered at Yale University in 1985, encompass a wonderful variety of techniques, with many opportunities to exploit the colours of a large historic instrument, such as this one in the Grote Kerk, Leeuwarden, in the Netherlands, which was built by Christian Müller in 1727, and is one the world’s finest historic organs, set in a perfect acoustic.

A magnificent conclusion to a series being hailed as one of the finest recordings of Bach’s organ music on disc.

In Bach’s time it was common practice to arrange works of other composers for different instruments.Also the great J.S. Bach transcribed solo concertos (for instance violin concertos, wind concertos) of such famous composers like Vivaldi and Marcello for organ solo.

CD was recorded in Kotka (Finland) on the organ used during the famous Kotka International Organ Competition.

Detailed organ registration available in the booklet.

Including the famous Fugue in D minor BWV 539 (originally for viol solo).

CD recorded with the unique ULSI recording system.

A follow up release of Matthias Havinga will follow in the second half of 2011.

Although it would be almost impossible to believe from the lofty position J.S. Bach occupies in the pantheon of the great composers, during his lifetime he was best known as one of the very greatest virtuosos and improvisers on the harpsichord and organ. He produced works of unrivalled contrapuntal art. As a result of his duties at court and for the church, Bach never travelled beyond what we now call Germany. His musical interests and the influences upon his compositional style came from outside the borders of his homeland. It was in particular the music of the Venetian master - Vivaldi and Marcello. Through the young half brother of the Duke of Sachsen-Weimer (who was a very talented violinist) Bach received the scores of Vivaldi’s op.3 concertos, and he learned from the Prince of a Dutch organist, the blind Jan Jakob de Graaf, who could perform such concertos by heart, in three or four voices. Bach’s transcriptions demand an absolute technical mastery of an order unprecedented at the time.What fun he must have had making these arrangements - a welcome change from the day to day duties that kept him from travelling.

Jean-Patrice Brosse is a polyvalent musician; indeed, he can play the harpsichord, the pianoforte and the organ. Therefore, J.-P. Brosse has always specialised in Baroque music.

In addition, J.-P. Brosse is the creator and the organizer of the Festival de Commingues, which takes place in Cathedral St Bertrand.

Being able to record some of the most famous pieces by Bach on the historical organ of the Cathedral St Bertrand has been an old dream of J.-P. Brosse.

Saphir Productions in association with J.-P. Brosse put an emphasis on this exceptional organ.