Bach - Stokowski

Stokowski (Artist), Bach (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 18, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B000002S9M
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #190,260 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #61 in Music > Classical > Forms & Genres > Variations > Passacaglias

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stokowski, the forgotten master of this century, March 2, 2001

By 

M. Mclain "liqwidfrog" (VA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Bach - Stokowski (Audio CD)

I recall as a kid listening to my parents tape of Stokowski conducts Bach in the car. I adored the Little fugue in G minor. I spent a long time looking for his work on CD, and this disc is it. It's beautifully recorded (Stokowski was the first conducter to look at a recording as a work of art, not just a reproduction of a performance). Of course, it's not what Bach wrote... it's important to realize that these works become a collaberation between Stokowski and Bach--and a successful one at that. The point is not whether it is what Bach wrote (recall of course that Bach did the same thing to the masters he admired (and either way, it's of no matter. the only thing that matters is the work itself)). The music is dramatic, it's beautiful, and it's brilliant. A Mighty Fortress is unimaginably rich, this is definitely a must have recording.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Bach transcriptions by a great Bach performer., August 25, 2002

By 

D. R. Schryer (Poquoson, VA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Bach - Stokowski (Audio CD)

Leopold Stokowski was one of the greatest conductors -- and musical geniuses -- of the 20th century. But before he was a conductor he was an organist, and he had a special love for the music of Bach. After he switched from the organ to conducting Stokowski transcribed many of Bach's organ works for orchestra so that he could expose them to a wider audience. His transcriptions, which were initially quite controversial, are now recognized as masterpieces which other conductors now perform. But no one performs them with quite the genius, dedication, and love as Stokowski did. This CD presents several of the greatest Bach/Stokowski transcriptions conducted by Stokowski himself and at a bargain price. Who knows how long it will be available? Please do yourself a favor and get it while you can.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars this will rock your world, November 13, 2003

By A Customer

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This review is from: Bach - Stokowski (Audio CD)

One of the pieces on this CD is Stokowski's arrangement of one of Schemelli songs by Bach, "Mein Jesu, was für Seelenweh befallt dich in Gethsemane." A very simple song, I remember it as an exercise in figured bass at school. When I heard Stokowski's rendition of it, I was shocked by the immediacy of the emotion. I could not believe what I heard. This type of musicianship is absolutely devastating. None of the living musicians can possibly apporoach this. His handling of the string section is not of this world, it will leave you breathless. Just listen to his phrasing -- and you will be undone in a minute. And this is just a simple 3 minute devotional song...

Of course, there are other arrangemets -- the organ Passacaglia is outstanding. Stokowski was trained first as organist, came here to the US from England, worked at St. Bartholomew Church in New York, then discovered a conductor in himself. I don't think he ever studied conducting; he just invented his own conducting technique, and it worked for him well. But what a musician!