Customer Reviews

Bach: Organ Works Vol 1 - Fantasias, Preludes & Fugues /Koopman

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Ton Koopman has recorded Bach organ music for a number of labels including Novalis, DG, Hanssler, and Teldec (complete). Though out of print this Teldec series is really worth searching for. These comments really are for the entire 12 volume series.

However, the prices people are asking for used copies are pretty high (except this Vol I). Koopman started but never finished a series in the '80's for the Novalis label. I think these must be the ones offered very cheaply on the Brilliant label. I have only one of those, Vol 2 that I bought on Ebay for $.01! That Novalis set may not be quite as well recorded as these Teldec issues and though the notes are quite good, the Teldec series has essays by the outstanding Bach scholar, Christoph Wolff.

Recorded in different locations in Germany, Austria and The Netherlands, Koopman uses authentic instruments (unlike Peter Hurford) and with ideal microphone placement (except possibly in the Trio Sonatas) these are beautiful sounding recordings. This recording captures some very deep bass notes.

Koopman always raises a few eyebrows with some of his ideas about added ornamentation. Some might call it improvisation! This did not bother me in the slightest. The playing is at times quite exciting, virtoustic and dramatic so the recordings are never dull. Exception: possibly at times in the Trio Sonatas.

In addition, these performances do not disdain what one might call the "Gothic" atmosphere in Bach.

The documentation is very fine with a brief article on the music, a history of each organ usually with pictures, and sometimes an additional essay on the music by Koopman with each disc.

Possibly even better were Wolfgang Rubsam's series for Philips (sorry, also out of print!), far better than his eccentric recordings done later for Naxos. However, I think Rubsam's used only two non-period instruments whearas with Koopman we get a little European travelogue of organs from Bach's time!

If you can get this CD for something under the original list price (probably $17, I suggest you snap it up, if you are especially fond of Bach's works, and if you are on the lookout for selections to play as a part of a worship service. Aside from the almost 75 minutes, the best part of the selection is that all 10 pieces are from later Bach works. As great as Johan was, his earlier cantatas were just a bit ordinary. But this is all superb stuff. The earlier reviewer gives a much better precis of Koopman's performance than I can. For the musical omnivore, this is tasty stuff.