Bach: Prelude & Fuge e minor BWV 548

[seminoleseminole1]

That major chord at the end (is it the so-called Picardy 3rd?) feels so satisfying at the end after all the complexity that came before it.

[latte123]

The dude turning the pages and manning the stops is doing great, but I think he needs about six more arms..... ;)

[fffzzz100]

damned what is Bach some kind of alien or what....could a human write such a thing?

[Machru]

To @fffzzz100: *LOL* You are sooo right (and humourous) - love it! :-)

[mudog35]

faster faster please !!!!

[sequoianorcal]

This is possibly the finest performance of the Wedge Fugue I have yet heard. Great clarity of line and voicing, and a very fine freedom of expression. The organ itself is also excellent. Bravo!

[austiefernoth]

BRAVO! Excellent playing, anyone who criticises is just jealous that they're not as awesome as you! :D

[SloterMFmeyer]

Held!

[SalHernor]

Great again and again!!!

and also congratulations to your helpers/assistants!!!

:)

[SalHernor]

Great!!!

[robertgift]

I take back my criticism of 5:44.

Just a small glitch likely caused by changing stops.

But there, I bring the fugue subject in on the Hauptwerk. No changing stops.

Still so disappointing that the wonderful pedal trills are unaccomplished as well as the difficult top trills in the right hand.

They are WORTH doing.

No, do NOT play faster. This was excellentempo.

But keep the wedge subject tempo steady - no conturing it.

Still an enjoyable, clear performance.

[koos1981]

@robertgift We are all waiting for your most perfect performance to arrive on Youtube. When is it coming?

[robertgift]

@koos1981 Listen to Helmut Walcha. He plays it best (except for cheating on the right hand trill in the third subject introductions.) (I play it slightly faster.)

Yuck, why no wonderful trill in the pedal? Yuck, other trills missing.

I critique my own playing. Nothing you could add that I have not already corrected.

Nice tempo here! This could be #1 performance if he bothered to play ALL the trills.

[Machru]

To @koos1981: Good one!! :-)

[Machru]

To @koos1981: Good one!! :-) 

[eribani]

this is loud.

[GMPSwann]

The key to playing JS Bach's Preludes and Fugues is that the listener must be able to hear every note. And in Mr Leistra's several online performances, we can hear every note with absolute clarity. The choice of registration is excellent. These are truly excellent performances, which I have enjoyed very many times over. Thank you Mr Leistra, very much. Peter Swann (Lincoln, UK)

[messjuh2]

Not faster. It's good so!

[mortson978]

how about fantasy and fugue, on the chorale ad nos ad salutarem undam. It's a half hour in length, but this guy seems like he can handle it ably.

[mudog35]

play faster faster!!!!!!!!!!!

[snoodify]

Ik heb het domorgel meerdere keren mogen bespelen en weet hoe zwaar deze fuga van Bach zich laat spelen. Arjen 2 nootjes van kritiek: probeer het wat rustiger aan te doen en probeer in het vervolg de opname in stereo te maken. Zoals iemand eerder bij een comment plaatste: het domorgel houdt niet van mono opnames. Verder prima stukje speeltechniek !

[sheugh1]

bravo!

[joeyboi87]

this organist is fantastic and most certainly knows the baroque techniques to perfection, the organ is also fantastic!

[Gusakov]

Bravo, Maestro Arjen !!

[TrackerAction]

Hoflaankerk: Dank u wel! I am SICK TO DEATH with insecure, self-centered musicians, who just love to point out the shortcomings of others, to make them feel better about themselves. Are your comments robert really about the music, or are they about boosting your ego, and making YOU feel more important thank you really are?!? Robert: Have you thought that perhaps the wind of this instrument wouldn't be able to handle trills in the pedal given how much is going on in the manuals?

[TrackerAction]

1:51, have you thought perhaps Robert that the microphone was in the balcony and not out in the room, not giving us a sense of what the balance actually is? Have you ever thought that there's no indication in any treatises to break manualiter sections like you suggest? Basically, if you're so damned talented, get your ass on the bench, and let's hear the wedge. . I'd love to rip your playing to shreds.

[robertgift]

I already rip my playing to shreds, especially when listening too my recordings!

I AM unimportant, so ego has nothing to do withis.

No, the organ can handle pedal trills. But nice try.

There are lots of nice things abouthis playing.

I have pointed out the distractions which bother me.

Like 2:17 What an awkward transition.

And 3:06 what happened there?

And 3:33 the tie was too late.

Rather than following teachings and treatises, do your own criticial thinking and listening.

[robertgift]

@TrackerAction At 1:51, you do that wonderful dramatic run up the scale. Not sever it in half by playing part on one manual and the rest on another.

Wow he plays the trill at 3:30!

Why such inconsistancy?

No pedal trill. How disappointing.

Unsteady beat.

Enough - must go wash my ears out with Walcha.

[Machru]

To @robertgift: Messages like this make you look like a fool! Such a shame to Walcha that he has such stupid supporters!

[robertgift]

@Machru How do you defend the inconsistancies? Some trills played, some missing? Top manual trills never played. How can you omithe dramatic pedal trills? Strange manual changes? Tempostrangely vary in some places..

Do you even know this work?

Still, this is an exciting performance.

[Machru]

To @robertgift : I have played this piece about 60 times - by heart, so I know it, believe me!

My problem with all hate messages on YouTube is the lack of respect for performers who have spent hours, weeks, months, sometimes years (!) to learn a certain piece, and all they get get from "besserwissers" is criticism! I don't agree with everything this performer does, but why compare him with Helmut Walcha!?? None of us are perfect! I certainly am not!

[robertgift]

Uneven tempo of "wedge".

NO TRILL in right hand after 3rd subject entrances? (:31)

NO TRILLs in pedal?? Very Disappointing.

1:51 bad transition from Positive to Oberwerk.

2:32 why not start that dramatic ascending scale on Positive and not bring ending fragrament of Oberwerk line to Positive?

5:33 why not reintroduce fugue subject on the Hauptwerk while finishing the preceding episode on Oberwerk?

The mess at 5:44 is a disgrace.

Otherwise a nice, energetic performance.

[3NUNS]

the phrasing ligatoes that this guy does and the rubato on the clashing harmonies in the fugue are first class although sebastiono might not have agreed GOOD WORK !

[mudog35]

can you play little faster like running to table full cakes

[atyy73]

Fantastic, even without the sunglasses. The guy pulling stops and turning pages is great in action.

[mudog35]

man you playing that way to fast, kinda ragged and sloppy !

[mwvh1]

Exzellentes Video und musiziert auf höchsten Niveau! Das Gegenteil von langweilig: Alle Akteure in höchster Konzentration. 1A; 5*****

[GerardvanR]

Je hebt heel wat techniek in huis. Het is een enorme prestatie om zo'n zwaar stuk te spelen op dit orgel. Maar het komt mij toch wat te onrustig over. De grootsheid van Bach zit volgens mij in de rust die zijn muziek behoort uit te stralen. GvR.