“Naxos's Organ Encyclopedia series marches gloriously on with this first volume devoted to Johann Pachelbel's works for the instrument. Pachelbel was no one-tune composer; nor was his work merely a dry run for Bach. Here, Wolfgang Rubsam plays a well-varied selection of fantasias, toccatas, ricercares, chorale preludes and ciaconas. The choral preludes-five examples-are remarkably highly developed pieces; the toccatas imposing, florid declamations over resounding pedal notes. But for me the highlights are the two ciaconas, both in D minor, real gems that bring out the best of this composer's fertile imagination. Rubsam plays beautifully, varying his registrations carefully, giving the music the space it demands. Buffs will like to know that the organ is that at Weissenan, built by Johann Nepomuk Holzhey between 1785 and 1787. It sounds magnificent.” Sunday Times, 16th April 2000
