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Monday, September 25, 2017

Johann Sebastian Bach - Organ Works (Karl Richter)


Information

Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

CD1:
  • (01-02) Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565
  • (03-05) Trio Sonata No. 2 in C minor, BWV 526
  • (06-07) Prelude and Fugue in D major, BWV 532
  • (08-09) Prelude and Fugue in A minor, BWV 543
  • (10-11) Fantasy and Fugue in G minor, BWV 542
  • (12-13) Prelude and Fugue in E flat major, BWV 552
  • (14-15) Prelude and Fugue in E minor, BWV 548
CD2:
  • (01-03) Trio Sonata No. 1 in E flat major, BWV 525
  • (04-06) Trio Sonata No. 5 in C major, BWV 529
  • (07)      Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 645
  • (08)      Kommst du nun, Jesus, vom Himmel herunter, BWV 650
  • (09)      Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele, BWV 654
  • (10-11) Prelude and Fugue in B minor, BWV 544
  • (12-13) Prelude and Fugue in C minor, BWV 546
  • (14)      Canzona in D minor, BWV 588
CD3:
  • (01-02) Toccata and Fugue in F major, BWV 540
  • (03)      Choral Partita 'O Gott, du frommer Gott', BWV 767
  • (04-05) Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 538 'Dorian'
  • (06)      Choral Partita 'Sei gegrüßet, Jesu gütig', BWV 768
  • (07-08) Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 582

Karl Richter, organ
Date: 1964-1978
Compilation: 2005
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
http://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/cat/4775337


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Review

ARTISTIC QUALITY: 10 / SOUND QUALITY: 10

There’s no shame in detesting organ music, even if some of Bach’s greatest works were written for the instrument. Nor is there anything wrong with wanting only a selection, rather than springing for a massive box. Finally, even if you love this stuff, you should own this collection. It’s just wonderfully fun. Most of the popular pieces are here: the big toccatas/preludes and fugues (in D minor, the “Dorian,” and the St. Anne); the C minor Passacaglia and Fugue; the Fantasie and Fugue in G minor, and about half a dozen others. Richter plays three of the six trios, three chorale preludes (including “Wachet auf”), plus two of the big early chorale partitas (variation sets based on a well-known chorale tune).

The success or failure of any organ recital depends as much on the organ as on the organist. Richter chooses two: a wonderful modern instrument in the Jaegersborg Church in Copenhagen, and the very well-known Silberman organ in Freiberg Cathedral which dates from Bach’s time. These give you the opportunity to hear a wide range of tone colors and timbres, and Richter takes full advantage of all of the possibilities. His performances are lively and spontaneous in a way that completely rids the music of those creaky, baroque cobwebs that make you wonder if people who like this stuff aren’t just a bit “off” mentally, if you know what I mean.

The opening of the Toccata and Fugue in D minor offers a case in point (sound clip No. 1): no Phantom of the Opera psycho-killer waiting in the wings here–just honest, vivid music making of striking power and imagination. And the sonorities that Richter chooses in the trios are simply magical (second sound clip). Pure, three part counterpoint has seldom sounded so otherworldly. The sonics, dating from 1964-9, were really demonstration quality for their day, and they still are. You’ll love this very generously filled 3-disc set, even if your friends may start thinking you a tad strange.

-- David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday

More reviews:
http://www.allmusic.com/album/bach-organ-works-mw0001382632
https://www.amazon.com/Bach-J-S-Organ-RICHTER-KARL/dp/B0006ZFQMQ

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Johann Sebastian Bach (31 March [O.S. 21 March] 1685 – 28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the Baroque period. Bach enriched established German styles through his mastery of counterpoint, harmonic and motivic organisation, and his adaptation of rhythms, forms, and textures from Italy and France. He is known for instrumental compositions such as the Brandenburg Concertos and the Goldberg Variations, and vocal music such as the St Matthew Passion and the Mass in B minor. Since the 19th-century Bach Revival he has been generally regarded as one of the greatest composers of all time.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Sebastian_Bach

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Karl Richter (15 October 1926 – 15 February 1981) was a German conductor, choirmaster, organist and harpsichordist. Richter played and conducted a wide range of music: sacred works from Heinrich Schütz to Max Reger, as well as the symphonic and concerto repertoire of the Classical and Romantic periods, even including Bruckner symphonies, but is best remembered for his interpretations of Johann Sebastian Bach and Handel. As well as a conductor, Richter is also remembered as a virtuoso harpsichordist and organist. His performances and recordings of Bach's organ works are well-known.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Richter_(conductor)

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FLAC, tracks
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4 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. Dear Ronald Do,
    Could you reupload the links, please? CD1 and CD2 are still on, but CD3 has fallen. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Choose one link, copy it to your browser's address bar, wait 5 seconds, then click on 'Skip Ad' (or 'Continue') (top right).
    If you are asked to download anything, IGNORE, only download from file hosting site (mega.nz).
    If MEGA shows 'Bandwidth Limit Exceeded' message, try to create a free account.

    CD1
    http://clesolea.com/2Js0
    or
    https://ouo.io/bjjdM1
    or
    http://uii.io/JoUZh

    CD2
    http://clesolea.com/2Js1
    or
    https://ouo.io/EDvC1V
    or
    http://uii.io/AE8DWS

    CD3
    http://clesolea.com/2Js2
    or
    https://ouo.io/U9WI4S
    or
    http://uii.io/Ns3Qs

    ReplyDelete