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

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Michael Murray plays the 1965 Rudolf von Beckerath Organ at St. Andreas-Kirche, Hildesheim, as he performs Bach's TOCCATA, Adagio, and Fugue in C Major, BWV 564.
Thank You for listening!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• J.S.
• Bach
• Toccata
• Adagio
• and
• Fugue
• in
• (C)
• Major
• BWV
• 564
• Rudolf
• von
• Beckerath
• Organ
• Orgel
• Orgue
• Michael
• Murray

[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?

[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 .

[sailormann1]

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

[1953jwdjr]

@KhagarBalugrak You got it!

[KhagarBalugrak]

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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[1001100x02]

I can just imagine what THAT sounded like!

[robertgift]

Yes, I am sometimes annoyed by his embellishments.

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