J.S. Bach: TOCCATA, Adagio, and Fugue in C Major, BWV 564

[sailormann1]

Thanks for posting this, csheff. I own this CD in my personal collection. Nice to see it now on YouTube.

[robertgift]

32' flue or Principle in Bach is wonderful, especially with 16' reed.

Just not 32' reed.

Love 32' reed in Reger and French composers, etc.

Have never found a Bach work where 32' reed sounds appropriate.

[KhagarBalugrak]

Wow, this is one of the best performances I have EVER heard. The expression Murray is getting here is like a bright, radiant spiritual sun pulling the listener upward. It's heavenly.

[Kansasthunderman]

I have a copy of the complete CD of Murray performing Bach on the Beckerath organ and it is one of my favorites.

The instrument combines power with an articulate sound character required for works from the Baroque Era.

The voicing of this instrument is an excellent example of the "Modern Baroque" sound which has revived a new interest in organ music over the past 40 years.

[robertgift]

Thank you, sheff, for posting this.

Dislike Murray's non phrasing. All slurred.

Also dislike the 32' reed.

No Bach should have any 32' reed.

Competently played, but bland without articulation and phrasing. No pizzazz.

Wonderful sounding organ in nice acoustics.

[csheff1014]

i respect your opinion, which has some merit. But I would tend to politely disagree about your suggestion about no Bach ever having any 32'. Bach played on St. Bavo's a lot, which has the 32'. Don't you think He would have utilized that?

[robertgift]

32' *REED*.

Love 16' reed with 32' flue (labial)

Justhat a 32' reed never sounds acceptable in any Bach work.

Maybe the Fugue in C major BWV 547 would be acceptable, but everywhere I have played it with a 32' reed, the 32' reed sounded inappropriate.

[keraulophone]

@csheff1014 What do you mean "Bach played on St. Bavo's a lot"? He has never been in the Netherlands!

He has visited Hamburg though and the Jacobikirche (--> 1692 Schnitger organ, WITH 32' Posaune)

[Posaunenbass32]

@csheff1014 Bach had never played on St Bavo (if you intend the one in Haarlem) but he played at least on five different instrument that have 32' . I agree with you that Bach maybe had used the 32' because he loved that stop. But I thinck that on this organ with this acoustic it sounds awful! Furtherless I don't like how Murray playes.

[KhagarBalugrak]

@csheff1014, Indeed...but the most important thing is that this recording has so much emotional energy - specifically, it's like rising light that draws you upward in the major parts, and sinking, dark energy in the minor parts. It's a wonderful contrast, and Murray pulls it off perfectly. Many organists, like Ton Koopman for instance, play with crushing deadness...so unpleasant...but this recording is more than worthwhile.

[1001100x02]

Well, this is certainly better than any Ton Koopman performance...he over embellished everything.

[robertgift]

Yes, I am sometimes annoyed by his embellishments.

For some friends, I did a "Koopman", embellishing every note that could be.

[1001100x02]

I can just imagine what THAT sounded like!

[jimbobboyorganist]

By some comments, Murray is 'out of fashion'. But a true musician loves the infinite variety of everyone's style with an open heart. Murray's handling of the architecture is so well formed, salient, and drives forward like the flow of a formidable wave, and I'm only along for the ride. Thanks, csheff .

[codeman2008]

@jimbobboyorganist I know right! Michael Murray remains my favorite organist of any generation. Truly I don't think a better performer was ever recorded playing the organ before! Personally, I agree about the use of the 32' reed... I don't think it really fits, but Murray is still my favorite.

[KhagarBalugrak]

@jimbobboyorganist, it's not just architecture and form. What about expression and essence? Murray has tons of that too.

[1953jwdjr]

@KhagarBalugrak You got it!