J S Bach Toccata and Fuga BWV 540 Ton Koopman Organ

[MrBooker39]

It takes all kinds of people to make a world, doesn't it? I happen to think that this is one of the finest performances of this work that I've ever heard. The tempi seem perfect: the toccata has majesty and sweep and the fugue unfolds with compelling power. I might have liked a little more broadening at the end, but that's a minor criticism of an altogether stellar recording.

Thanks to Mr. Koopman and to you,Gravicembalo!

[mattbod]

@robertgift: Koopman is an extremely gifted player but also a purist of the Gustav Loenhardt mould (well he would be as a pupil of his) who doesn't believe in multiple changes of registration for superficial (to them) effect or excessive ornamentation. I myself do not agree with this ultra purist approach but it is there. Leonhardt died sadly last December but last summer he gave an interview with the BBC condemning the playing of Bach on the piano, excessive manual/reg change on organ etc.

[Pietramontecorvino]

pure jealousy.

there are many people in the world who can play as Ton, I'm sorry for you, I'd love to hear from you ...

[jazzmanlondon]

you seem to have no idea what you are talking about and so I will help you out. This organ is the one that Arp Schniitger built in his home village and it's part of Hamburg, in the south of Hamburg, just 15 minutes form my family home. There you go:

St. Pankratius-Kirche zu Hamburg-Neuenfelde

By the way, Ton Koopman plays the piece slower than we do normally but playing fast on this organ is quite difficult... the "Druckpunkt" of the keys is quite high if you know what I mean :D I guess not

[mattbod]

@jazzmanlondon I do and I'd imagine with the manuals couples (sorry klaviers!) one would need considerable finger strength to play rapidly on this organ and a lot of stamina in a piece this long.

[robertgift]

Much is not heard here. Arpeggios rushed? Too fast?

In the fugue subject, where is the first mordent?

Why no pedal trill in the fugue subject?

No contrast and relief. Fatiguing- musthere be a reed throughouthentire work?

[TheGravicembalo2]

@robertgift sorry i dont know...

[robertgift]

@TheGravicembalo2 The ornaments revealed in the subject athe beginning I play throughouthe work.

Sad that Koopman doesn't bother. Too difficult for him? (Some arespecially difficult when so much else is going on, buthey are wortheffort.)

Is tying (slurring) notes together too difficult for Ton?

I like to hear notes connected to form musicalines. Then you can have phrasing, articulation, breathing, which makes a work warm, human and inviting - not sterile.

[magnaliberatio]

Are you sure that this is on the Schnitger organ in Hamburg ? It sounds suspiciously like the organ in the Grote Kerk in Maassluis, the Netherlands, on which Koopman played a brilliant interpretation of BWV 540....  :-)

[poopingeneral]

@magnaliberatio I can assure you this is the organ of Hamburg, built in the year of 1688. I also have a CD of T. Koopman playing this exact recording, and it's titled with the Arp Schnitger organ of Hamburg. Also you will find if you do a little bit of research that Arp Schnitger made many similar sounding organs, due to his style of build, and craftsmanship.