Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Organ works
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
Jean Guillou (organ)
rec. Eglise Notre-Dame des Neiges at l’Alpe d’Huez, France, November
1987 (discs 1 and 6) and on the Great Kleuker-Steinmeyer organ of the Tonhalle,
Zurich, August 1990 (discs 2, 3, 4 and 5) DDD
DORIAN DSL-92104 [6CDs: 73.20 + 62.55 + 71.03 + 67.49 + 77.08 + 53.56]
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
An authoritative and fascinating set of discs.