Sir George Thalben-Ball plays Bach - Toccata in F BWV 540

[OrbiliusMagister]

Absolutely thrilling!

I don't woant to look profane, butsometimes the second half holds such a strict tempo and such a flowing drive that you could almost dance to it.

[KhagarBalugrak]

What is remarkable about this recording is that every note is absolutely clear and distinct, and yet the tempo is driving. That is incredibly hard to pull off, and that's what makes this recording so valuable.

[pitbull2005]

I used to listen to his lunch time concerts at the Birmingham Town Hall. What a great man, who bought pleasure to so many people!

[peteacher52]

Dr Thalben-Ball gave the opening recital in the Auckland Town Hall in 1971 after the organ's ill-considered renovation. The piston mechanisms had not arrived from overseas in time and Dr Ball had to perform as if the instrument had no playing aids. Local organ builder, Ken Aplin was kept busy as registrant, but Dr Ball's frustration was obvious as he made the best of a bad job. And cope he did, splendidly. The organ has since been made good by Klais, a pity that T-B couldn't have enjoyed it.

[A60stock]

Actually this is recorded on the Compton Organ in the Concert Hall of Broadcasting House not Maida Vale studios. The trouble with the Broadcasting house instrument is that it can be heard in the surrounding studios so when the BBC bought Maida Vale in 1935 they installed a larger Compton there where it did not upset other studio users.

[Theodopolis]

Thank-you for explaining the discrepancy between the 1933 recording date and the 1935 installation of the Maida Vale organ. It has had me wondering for some time which fact was incorrect: the recording date or the venue. Cheers.

[pianoenthusiast11]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[siamesehenry]

siamesehenry,

fantastic, my mother used to tutored by GTB when he was in EDinburgh. never thought I would here the like again!!

[carlissimo52]

I am thrilled to hear this performance, surely the most thrilling, edge-of-the-seat playing I've experienced in years. This is a player of absolute confidence, not afraid of light-and-shade, nor of being on the razor's-edge... I was fortunate to have known Thalben-Ball and to have studied with him for quite some time... Yes, his was a 'big strings' approach to organ playing and I so adore every second of being so happily reminded of his sheer genius all over again!

[pipeorganloverNJP]

Indeed, you're very fortunate :)

[MonsieurOrgue]

Too rushed

[cygneboy]

Wow that is fast! Sounds A LOT like Virgil Fox.

[pipeorganloverNJP]

Especially the pedal (fast).

[SilverlakeDehners]

Actually, it is Virgil Fox that sounded like Thalden-Ball as T-B's areer was well in progress when Virgil Fox's career was just beginning.

[eameece]

I posted the Virgil Fox version at my eameece channel, or search Toccata 540 Fox.

[pipeorganloverNJP]

This is one of the best renditions of this piece I've heard. I only wish the quality could have been better. But I have to respect its antiquity. :)