Bach Fugue in D major, BWV 532

[jill506]

@jsnauwaert. you're musical observations are acute and i concur.

[cowboypainthorse]

Tremendous performance ! No improvement needed, but I'm sure that she knows this piece of music from memory by now, and she could put more of her own 'feeling' during the playing of this Fugue. One of Bach's best Fugues' ever.

I listened to Virgil Fox for many years prior to his untimely death, and she has some tremendous talent to display.

[jsnauwaert]

She has nice legs!

[konker666]

@jsnauwaert very truth

[GlobalProductions123]

You are amazing! (If you do, your lucky to have an electric organ. My father won't even buy me one.)

[polgarfan]

Why did Bach write this fugue?

[octavebasse8]

@polgarfan He wrote it after having seen a glimpse of heaven.

[Kinescoop]

I'm playing drums, and I often hear people admiring the coordination of the best drummers. Still, they can't get CLOSE to the level of coordination presented here :)

[accousticdecay]

WOW! What a performance!!! and I love that brassy, firey Moller sound!!

[GabrieleCorniani]

an exellent organist !!!

[GabrieleCorniani]

An excellent organist !!!

[swc789rjp]

Any reason you begin the fugue in the right hand? The music calls for the initial entry of the subject in the left hand. Just wondering...

[swc789rjp]

Any particular reason you begin the fugue in the right hand?  The music calls for the entry of the first subject in the left hand. Just wondered...

[bondmatty]

Well played! One of my favourite fugues. For me, it demonstrates Bach's amazing ability to turn such a simple fugal subject, of almost nursery rhyme stature, into a tour de force. Absolute fireworks towards the end. It's so exuberant, I can't help feeling Bach wrote it because he got paid that day, or perhaps one of his children was born.

[VONHIMMELBACH]

I just love it...congratz.

[Phaare]

Very interestnig style of playing the pedals, and hear I good? Strong 16' and 4'?

[Aeoline91]

I'd say, it's a pedal mixture. ;)

[jerroldtidwell]

Fine job! I use this fugue a good bit myself- quite an audience piece. As far as critical comments toward registration and articulation: OK FOLKS, LET"S HEAR YOU DO IT BETTER. Having been an active organist and performer over the past 25 years, I get disgusted with these critical old queens bitching from the console!!!!

[trevjr]

I am not an organist but I love this fugue. In a way Bach is showing off that he can write a fugue on any subject. I like Virgil best in this piece because I feel that the tempo must drive. Like most of Bach's work, the tempo is given by the music itself. There is no too fast or too slow, only critics that never heard Bach play it. I feel here that the pedal tone is too mixed in with the rest and the clarity is lost.

[willowthebored]

I like that you kept the tempo very smooth and uniform, that seems to be hard to do with 532. The registration isn't particularly interesting, but then again, neither are Mollers, and it certainly isn't as if you're playing it with the Fagott in the pedals and the En Chamades blaring, either. Five stars.

[willowthebored]

Also, VERY nice control on the pedal solo, albeit the quint really sticks out too much there.

[riverscuomo06]

the mollers built in like the 60s were good....but i have a 1930 moller at my church and it blows (no pun intended). no mixtures, no mutations, no pedal reed, and it's waayyy too quiet. although, we don't have to spend much repairing it so it has surely stood the test of time...

[horses1]

There nothing like church music to bring out the worst in us :) The only thing that I would say here is that Moeller organs are rather colourless.

[surfinthetube]

I thought Italiano Opera cliques were bad.... but you Organazis are ruthless!  I LOVED this performance.

[a55b47]

"Organazis." I like it ! ;-) And I concur.

[jipbannon300]

@surfinthetube I think the performance depends very much on the organ and the space it's in. Perhaps it's the youtube video, but this does sound rather "muddy"; a bit lacking in definition. However, it is superbly played.

[ocwhanappi]

I agree : wonderful tempo . Very convincing

There exists a record Deutsche Grammophon ( old ) with Karl

Richter : I think it is the best one .

[shipsbells]

One of the finest performances of this piece to be heard and seen anywhere. This is my favorite organ piece. I have a lot of recordings of it. My favorite is one by Hanz Heintze which was released on Nonesuch records in the 1970's.  This comes very close.

[riverscuomo06]

booooooooring registration, but this is the only good video of this on youtube, so i can't complain. good playing.

[swellshades]

Boring registration? What trash--

You don't know what you're talking about.

[riverscuomo06]

well, i'm  a virgil fox follower, and she definitely could've made that more interesting.

[swellshades]

I apologize for being rude riverscuomo; there aren't many Virgil Fox clones around though...

[riverscuomo06]

it's too bad, cuz there's way too many purist clones like this woman.

[willowthebored]

Unfortunately, Virgil's interpretations of Bach were rather...singular. He could do some interesting stuff, but I think, especially for pieces like 532, that a steady, singular tempo is basically a prerequisite. The only real opportunity for expression is where the ends of the phrases neatly coincide.

[ocwhanappi]

Yes .Registration not variabel,but a very good Tempo;

try to hear Karl Richters Interpretation ( record Deutsche Grammophon)

[riverscuomo06]

we're not talking about tempo here, although you are right in saying that. glad somebody agrees with me about the registration.

[ocwhanappi]

listen to Karl Richters . phantastic virtousity on claviatur and legs .registration fluently >" panta rei"

[uorgel]

Klasse gespielt!!!

[Organiste06]

Great !

[karlakor]

The opening tempo was good but it began to drag during the course of the exposition. The third entrance of the fugue subject marked a distinct slowing in tempo. But in general this is a good performance.

[gbaune]

Schönen Gruß aus Bachs Heimat und Gratulation an die Organistin ! Diese Fuge ist nämlich vor allem im Pedalsatz tatsächlich sauschwer zu spielen.

[YevgeniyAlexey]

Really?

[TorSkywalker]

my favorite organ work - the organist is very amzing.

This piece is so difficult!

[zanteson]

Superb TALENT!

[mikex100]

Loved this - what assured playing. Watched it again and again. But, why leave video of the pedalwork until the end of the piece...

[skyler6290]

My favorite Bach fugue, along with the Gigue fugue. Just love how the music dances along from start to finish in this piece. Such energy and verve!

[lustful2]

I enjoyed your playing Alison. Everything about this perfomance was right sensible articulation good phrasing and u never lost ocntrol over the Fugue subject even in those awkward rapid cadenza passages in the Pedal. I must confess its a work i don't like to play to often. Despite the earlier comments with regard to no contrast in the registration this didn't detract from the lively playing of the Fugue.

[Tuttiplaya]

the one thing i would say about this performance, is does she need to have the registration the same the whole time? and so big from start to finish? otherwise, i liked it. :)

[counterpoint4]

Brilliant. Would make Bach proud. Immensely difficult piece.

[aal49]

Well played.

[wurlitzer3]

My a very nice sounding Moller in addition to the outstanding playing. Catch her video of the Langlais. Her pedal work shows outstanding musicality not to mention technique. This is one of Felix Hell's signature pieces by the way and she plays it just as well.

[jbrough71]

Excellent indeed - As for the grade - it's diploma level. Probably one of the hardest P&F's out there, right up there with the Fantasia and Fugue in G Minor, and the St. Anne.

[stodaboda]

does anyone know what grade this piece is? I lost my syllabus.

[arco42uk]

It is Diploma standard - and is set as one of the three prescribed works for the FTCL Diploma in Organ (along with the Fugue) ... i.e. Fellowship of Trinity College of Music, London, which I am preparing for.

[arco42uk]

I mean... along with the Prelude!... anyhow... a marvellous rendition here.. Quite inspirational!

[Uraia]

Goddess of the organ!!!

[jec3702]

I am an International Concert & Recording Organist, I am also the Founder & Organist for a radio program entitled, Pipe Praise Programs, let me tell you! I've enjoyed this recording! She is an OUTSTANDING ORGANIST! My shoes are off to you!

Jerrod E. Coates

[a55b47]

I've finally managed to contact her to get her permission, thanks to information from one of the YouTube viwers above. She's Alison Luedecke, & I concur with you 100% about her talents.

[organplusgal]

Thank you very much!!! Know any place that wants to book me for a concert? :~) Alison

[TURBOKNIGHTRIDER]

did you palyed barefoot?

[aal49]

Thats a good way to break your toes.

[organplusgal]

definitely not! that would hurt- ALOT!

[ACVoltage]

cool !  You got it !

and.. the Cam-Man.. no awful Zoomming ! You have lerned ! :)

[jmeister321684]

She REALLY plays wonderfully!

[rdh72]

I like to know who this organist is. Very good job on the organ.

[a55b47]

Wish I could tell you. I filmed this, so I've got the right to Tube it. But I need to get her permission to use her name, & haven't been able to conact her.

[mikemcwong]

I believe she is currently a member of the San Jose chapter of AGO, you should be able to find her info on the webpage or you can send me an email.

[a55b47]

Update, thanks to Mike (see below). she's Alison Luedecke, & she currently operates out of the San Jose area.  An excellent organist.