Bach: Organ Toccatas / Schübler Chorales [Import]

Johann Sebastian Bach (Composer), John Butt (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: John Butt
• Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
• Audio CD (November 14, 2000)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
• ASIN: B000050FLL
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #505,426 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

J.S. Bach is by far the most widely known and widely recorded of organ composers, and the works on this disc are among his most popular. We have here a collection of organ pieces that countless people have encountered: the organ prelude "Sleepers Awake," heard at thousands of weddings; the Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, heard in dozens of bad horror movies; and so on. The six Schübler Chorale Preludes and these four Toccatas and Fugues have been recorded by legendary organ soloists from E. Power Biggs to Marie-Claire Alain to Christopher Herrick--and even by Karl Richter and Ton Koopman, two icons among Bach conductors. Yet in spite of the overfamiliarity of the music, this recording by Bach scholar and organist John Butt is delightful. Butt's articulation is clear, his phrasing is nicely varied (not necessarily an easy matter on the organ), his instrument (the organ of Trinity College Chapel, Cambridge) suits Bach nicely, and his registrations are well-chosen. Most refreshing, this performance brings out a quality of Bach we don't often hear: playfulness. Butt performs the Toccatas in particular with flair and wit--he makes you believe that Bach had fun writing these pieces and even more fun playing them. --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you could have just one Bach organ recital..., March 30, 2008

By 

John Hopfensperger "Hoppy" (Midland, MI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bach: Organ Toccatas / Schübler Chorales (Audio CD)

This is great music, plain and simple. These works represent Bach's most famous and wonderful output on the organ, and are played here with the utmost taste. The recording perfectly captures the Organ of Trinity College, which seems not to produce an unattractive sound.

There is really nothing else to say. This disc belongs in everyone's library. 5/5

1 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent music, excellent playing, excellent recording, January 6, 2001

By 

A. Harding "Aussie" (Newport, Victoria Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bach: Organ Toccatas / Schübler Chorales (Audio CD)

This reminds me of my childhood, where I grew up playing on the back pew while my mother practiced the organ music for Sunday, weddings, etc. Very moving!