BWV 538 - Toccata und Fuge in d-moll - Karl Richter 1/2

[Puppyjump]

I'd like to buy the entire CD that this recording came from. Anybody know exactly which release this came from?

[Puppyjump]

@Puppyjump Never mind...I found it by navigating thru the MP3 store link

[worras2007]

What a mighty performance!!!

[tuyhhf]

Oh my. I think I've found one of my new favorite pieces...

[FredrikKZ]

Fantastic, this is really fantastic!

[ChalieChaplin]

unbelieveble

[jsnauwaert]

Music for Heaven!

[hbmp88]

I don't understand why people can't just write: "Beautiful" and get on with their day. Instead they start arguing...

[advisorC101]

@hbmp88, Because the matter of beauty is a highly subjective one. It's perfectly natural for controversy to follow in light of that, and it gets even more intsense when we comment from a visceral reaction and not actual knowledge. I think it's good that there's a lot of debate, and my channel especially is simply drenched in it. Arguing is simply another way of learning.

If you really find it that unpleasant, then simply turn a blind eye to it. Like most of the people who only want to listen.

[robertgift]

I play with the last notes of the toccata subject detached. Do not like them connected.

But love his full-measure trill.

Wish they would correcthe unsteady windefect in this instrument.

Dislike the sudden manual change at 5:17. Makes no sense.

Nicely done at 5:49.

[Blockedify]

This has a certain compelling authenticity to it, I mean a personal authenticity not a period authenticity, which makes it musically on a par with the M. Schneider posting of this piece. I wonder if the "touch" of this organ is what's dictating the tempo, in addition to the acoustic. And what idiot would write that acoustic should not dictate tempo. 

[advisorC101]

@Blockedify, one that puts the structure and character of the piece above all else. One that is also not bound by such a frail sense of perception. Don't misunderstand, I do believe that we should always take the acoustic into consideration and treat it seriously. But if this will undermine the quality of what the composer originally produced, then it's simply not worth fretting over. There's also the subjectivity involved with how tempi work in certain acoustic that is a basis for disagreement.

[voixhumaine]

@Blockedify Quite agree with you on your last two sentences : historic instruments like these were not taylored at all to be played fast, Their touch do not allow for it, and the complexity of their mixtures precisely laud with surrounding acoustic. Bach captured that very well, and offered what probably remains the best music of all times. Despite the old age of the organ it is still worth listening to Richter, who finally is giving a faithful playing of the piece.

[epx141]

@advisorC101: no problem, just my opinion, based on personal taste.

[epx141]

Greatest interpretation of greatest BWV

[advisorC101]

@epx141, Forgive me for saying that I thoroughly disagree, and Richter himself would no doubt say the same thing.

[MusicPredominates]

@advisorC101 : Since when was a young reactionary like you on par with Richter ?

[advisorC101]

@MusicPredominates, Stop pulling strawmen out of your hat and think about why I said what I did instead. Richter made a point himself that his playing could never be "perfect" as he needed to create something new each time, that was the 'secret' to his success.I am merely repeating his own thoughts and making observations from an objective standpoin. I never once claimed to be "on par" with him. I also find it rather comical that you claim I am young when you've never even met me.

[advisorC101]

@advisorC101, excuse my typo- objective standpoint*

[MusicPredominates]

@advisorC101 : I do wear a hat. Sure. Hugs.

[MusicPredominates]

@advisorC101 : Forgive my haste ! What you have said is good !

[MusicPredominates]

@advisorC101 : 'Good on yah' advisorC101.

[ALRAesurrection]

Robertgift has just surpassed himself in the Guinness of the "dullest ignorant of the stupidity realm": "Silbermann wind defect" simply hilarious! Only Robert can reach such levels of sublime ignorance and dullness. Robert, the best you can do is to try to fix a little bit your mental defects... pathetic, simply pathetic...

[ghostwriter11]

Superb performance on an organ that desperately needs to be refurbished. (Perhaps it has been since this was recorded?)

[Sinatra70]

This is a great performance, but I think it is lacking a bit of the fire - at least in my opinion - of Richter's recording of the same piece in Ottobeuren in the 1950s.

[advisorC101]

@Sinatra70, hmm.. I think perhaps you're mistaking this BWV 538 Toccata and Fugue with the BWV 565 Toccata and Fugue. Both are in D Minor. I don't think Richter has recorded BWV 538 on the Riepp orgel of Ottobeuren.

[Sinatra70]

@advisorC101 - Good morning. The recording I'm thinking of wasn't recorded on the Riepp organ, but rather on the 1959 Steinmeyer organ in the Ottobeuren Abbey (rebuilt by Klais in the early 2000s). The album I have included the BWV 538 and the partita on "Sei gegrusset". A copy is current on sale on eBay as item number 120513654361.

[advisorC101]

@Sinatra70, Very interesting! I'll definitely check this out. Thank you very much.

[skutratufahija]

please debate, i like your well educated opinions on please have a nice cup of shut the fuck up and let us all enjoy the music.

[advisorC101]

@skutratufahija, You want a nice cup of shut the fuck up? Sure thing. I'll block you for the lulz.

[MusicPredominates]

@advisorC101 : gentlemen, let's not argue

[robertgift]

Hope they fix the Silbermann's windefect. Terrible.

Wish he had not SLURRED the notes which should be separated.

He CONTINUED the TRILL at 2:03! WONDERFUL! BRAVO!

Interesting hearing the "quiet" reedless pedal passages.

Thank you, Advisor, for posting this and the interesting photos. Much appreciated.

[Biff947]

I love the massive trilled major-sevenths

[BAxitorCH]

This one is the best version of this great composition..Awesome Karl Richter, I absolutely love his interpretation..it's amazing!

[IncliningArcOfTime]

"Yes, very true that this isn't how Bach would have played it.." What a bunch of twits. I've heard this piece on probably 20 different instruments, played by almost as many different organists - Marcel Dupre, Helmut Walcha, Anton Heiler, Anthony Newman, E.Power Biggs, Marie Claie Alain - all over the U.S and Europe. Each time it is different, each time I'm left with Bach's genius and each time I realize that I have learned something. Try enjoying the music instead of outsmarting the player.

[advisorC101]

@IncliningArcOfTime, Music exists to be thought about and to be felt. There is no way to say at 100% how Bach played, as he always played differently. You are right in saying that there is something to learn from many artists. But you are indulging in ignorance, and that has no value to discovery or learning about oneself. Richter plays it as Richter would. And at the same time he still speaks the mind of the composer. Like a true musician would. Nobody is trying to "outsmart" anyone.

[IncliningArcOfTime]

@advisorC101 "your endulgance in ignorance is useless and of no value to any discovery or learning" and your ego boundless, your voice irrelvant.

[advisorC101]

@IncliningArcOfTime, it's a pity you misconstrue my comment in such a way.

[kknots]

By the power of this organ, every note of Bach shall tremble the halls with echo

[Bachlives2]

It is not so much that the organ can't handle it is that the organist is Double Drawing, He uses all 8s and 4s and 2s. I have heard many organist play the organ and it is this powerful but the winding does not go crazy it is simply to many stops and he does not know how to handle a hand pumped organ. it now has Lungs

[advisorC101]

@Bachlives2, I wouldn't say he doesn't know how to use it. Rather his romantic taste in stops were not limited by the type of organ. He pushed it right to its limits.

[falstocat]

@advisorC101

Bach was known to open Silbermanns up to their limits, too!

[guinguette07]

Insurpassable Karl Richter...

[lonesquaw]

This instrument has a huge echo so it must be played more deliberately so the peice doesn't sound like mush. I still love this organ

[advisorC101]

No, never! The acoustics should never determine the tempo at all.

[MeinnameistDreck]

This does sound a little out of sorts for both Bach and Richter. It could be as simple as the way the "Schleifladen-Mechanik" of the organ operates, which forces Richter to play more deliberately or something else. Usually though, Richter's interpretations of Bach are simply stellar, crackling with energy and life.

[HolyMotherofGrid]

Unusual for certain...... Richter certainly was a wonderful musician - but, i;m not really sure i like this interpretation: it just doesn't seem like Bach anymore!! This piece when played in a pure Baroque style on a period instrument, has drive, vigor, direction and power..... the way it is played here, it just seems to meander semi-aimlessly and atmospherically. Perhaps i'm just not in the right mood - but then again this piece usually GETS me into the right mood!!

[advisorC101]

Yes, very true that this isn't how Bach would have played it. As I've said in the previous comment, Richter was a Romantic but at he had his own ideas as well. That's good in the sense that he wasn't robotic like Walcha. Richter has a different way of expressing himself, like a romantic organist would. Those who are infused with the true baroque sound will undeniably find this distasteful. But from a Romantic's perspective, this is wonderful, and I agree because I enjoy both styles.

[epx141]

By far the best version of 538 for organ.

I guess many other intepreters fall short because they seem to "race" the music, play it too fast, as if they were trying to show their abilities on keyboard. And music suffers, you can not 'taste' each note. Of course RIchter did not do this mistake.

[1963mathetes]

Excellent! My favorite interpretation of this piece, and probably the best recording of the Freiberg Silbermann I've heard to date. It's interesting to me that while this is thoroughly Baroque music on a thoroughly Baroque organ, the interpretation strikes me as rather "Romantic", albeit in a good way. A pity Herr Richter is no longer with us.

[advisorC101]

That's because Richter was a Romantic musician playing Baroque music. He was perfectly aware that he wasn't playing in the same style Bach did. But as a result he is able to express himself in a magnificent way. To be honest I don't like those modern organs he plays in his other recordings, the Baroque instruments are just naturally much better suited for the music.

[silverstartrucker]

Excellent. A brilliant sound also.

[FreieStadtElbing]

james

do you proceed with some censorship here...?

[advisorC101]

Censorship?

[advisorC101]

Ah! Now I see what you mean.

Its something to do with Youtube's commenting system. It always mixes things up.

[FreieStadtElbing]

i see...

[advisorC101]

Its a problem really.. on my other video "Abide with me" its completely mixed up.

[FreieStadtElbing]

the system freely shuffles comments, i guess

[advisorC101]

Hmm.. more like there are so many videos that no one is bothered to fix the problem. They give the whole place a new look but forget to fix all of the small (but most annoying) problems.

[paradoxicus]

Excelente interpretacion.Karl Richter el mejor interprete de la historia al organo de la obra de JSB.11/10

[AcrossFromMarty]

This is a very nice song. It has a lot of emotion, but I must say this haunted organ sound frightens me bit. The bass notes don't tell the same story as the high major sounds.

[advisorC101]

The organ is a misunderstood instrument. I take it you've never played one before?

I am afraid you are wrong about the bass notes.

[AcrossFromMarty]

I learned on an organ, but nothing like that one. Sounds fun to play.. Maybe I was wrong about the bass notes.. Occasionally it happens .

CKB

[advisorC101]

That's because its a "pipe organ" not like an electric organ (which I assume is what you are referring to).

[micangess]

Strepitoso!

[StummOrgelAmorbach]

fantastich 5*

[ismDUKAGJIN]

the Best Interpretator of all times.

[AndreaPianoPlayer]

Karl Richter was great, one, maybe the greatest Bach interpreter...

[anmamouge]

Emozionante!!!....5*

Grazie!!!!

anna.

[advisorC101]

Figurati Anna!!!

[jobw87]

And thank you for posting. :0)

[jobw87]

I have this recording on a cd. It's the best.

[ismDUKAGJIN]

AWESOME RECORDING....

the Great KARL RICHTER !!!

[passacaglia28]

Of course I am giving you five stars for this, dude! Thanks for sharing this with us

[giovdan]

The best recording of this piece!

[FreieStadtElbing]

hmm,it`s really considerable,even if not a "historically authentic" one... and a pity he died that young

[advisorC101]

Why thank you Freie.

[lllmozartlll]

Great recording, absolutely splendid interpretation of this most wonderful Toccata. Sincerest thanks for uploading.

[codeman2008]

No organist has ever been cooler than Karl Richter, he has an aura of coolness to him. Likewise, Sviatoslav Richter is just about the coolest pianist there's ever been! No pianist has been cooler than Sviatoslav Richter...

So now when I say 'Richter is my favorite' I'm talking about two different musicians... even though their last names are pronounced differently...