BACH Organ Works - Dorian DSL92104 [EM]: Classical Music Reviews

This six-CD set presents J. S. Bach’s great works for organ performed by Jean Guillou, a leading exponent of his instrument. The discs were recorded in 1987 and 1990 on the Kleuer organ of the Eglise Notre-Dame des Neiges at l’Alpe d’Huez and on the Kleuker-Steinmeyer organ of the Tonhalle in Zurich. These are both exceptionally fine instruments, with focused, clear tone throughout the range and well-differentiated voicing. Guillou’s performances are extremely intelligent, with well-thought-out registration and an excellent resultant layering of sound. Individual voices are brought appropriately to the foreground and the climaxes are solid, though never clogged with redundant sound. The use of registration is particularly refreshing in the context of the better-known works - Guillou’s sense of dialogue in the closing paragraph of the Toccata of the Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 is palpable, lending a new perspective to a work that is so often characterised by an indulgent wash of sound. The delineation of voices can be heard to good advantage, too, in the Chorale Preludes - the chorale melody occupies the foreground to a sufficient extent to be evident, but still at a level of translucency that allows Bach’s often startlingly innovative harmonic interpretation to shine through. Listen to In dulci jubilo, BWV 608 and An Wasserflüssen Babylon, BWV 653, for particularly interesting examples of this. Striking harmonic piquancy is imparted through judicious use of the Sesquialtera on the Positif, which some listeners may find disturbing at first; but once the ear has accustomed itself to this slightly unusual colour, it will be perceived as an enhancement to the harmonic colour and as an excitingly innovative dimension to the sound-landscape.

Guillou’s employment of rhythm as an expressive medium is also impressive, and results in a momentum that is essentially horizontal: he allows the music’s harmonic characteristic to inform the vertical element and thus brings the melodic element to the fore. Such an interpretation becomes at once a celebration of Bach’s contrapuntal art and a realisation of its basis in fifteenth- and sixteenth-century vocal polyphony.

The booklet notes are clear and well-written, with the works appropriately grouped according to type; although those unfamiliar with musicological research connected with this music might appreciate a brief explanation of the credentials of the ubiquitously mentioned Peter Williams. There is enough technical detail to provide ‘signposts’ to guide a listener through the works; and informative historical data, too; as well as some enjoyable anecdotes (such as Hubert Parry’s word-setting of the subject of the G minor Fugue). Fascinating notes on the organs and full specifications of both are given, pleasingly enough. An authoritative and fascinating set of discs.

Em Marshall

Track listing
CD 1 [73:20]
Prelude and Fugue in A Minor
Chorale Preludes
Trio Sonata No. 1 in E-flat Major
Chorale Preludes
Prelude and Fugue in E Minor
Chorale Partita, "O Soft, du frommer.Gott"
Fuge on a Theme by Corelli
Fantasia and Fugue in G Minor
CD 2 [62:55]
Toccata and Fugue in D Minor “Dorian”
Chorale Preludes
Chorale Preludes
Allabreve in D Major
Chorale Prelude
Chorale Preludes
Prelude in A Minor
Partita on "Set gegruSet, Jesu gutig"
CD 3 [71:03]
Toccata and Fugue in D Minor
Chorale Preludes
Chorale Preludes.
Trio Sonata No.2 in C Minor
Chorale Preludes
Prelude in G Major
Chorale Preludes
Prelude and Fugue in B Minor
CD 4 [67:49]
Toccata and Fugue in F Major
Chorale Preludes
Chorale Preludes
Fantasia in C Minor
Chorale Preludes
Prelude and Fugue in C Minor
Chorale Preludes
Prelude and Fugue in E Minor
CD 5 [77:08]
Prelude and Fugue in C Major
Chorale Preludes
Chorale Settings
Fugue in C Minor "Legrenz”
Chorale Setting
Pastorella in F Major
Prelude and Fugue in D Minor
Fantasia in C Major
Chorale Preludes
Prelude and Fugue in E Major

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