Dr. Harold Darke plays Pièce d'Orgue (Fantasia in G) BWV 572 of J.S. Bach.
Recorded 1965 - St Michael's Cornhill, London
A rare example of the early twentieth-century English style of Bach interpretation. Particularly in the registration of the 'Grave' section.
@Rankett16: Your review truly stinks of that "Orgelbewegung" "museum-piece" politically-correct mentality which has been such a HUGE turn-off for me from the entire Baroque and Classical periods (even Renaissance and earlier)!!!
Actually, the way that Harold Darke interprets this piece, all the Swell-boxing and registrations are very tasteful variations upon a scheme that would not be out of place even on a Baroque instrument. Yes, the last section may be fast, but it's still convincing!
LJBSasha 1 year ago
The tempo is fine for someone who knows to read the markings of the score
tuxedomoon 1 year ago
Sorry, pal, for this negative response to your post: who would give two hoots about the stylistic purity of this performance?
Darke's playing of this Fantasia is so musical that it overrides such considerations. If you had been living in central Virginia in 1965 as I was, you would have given thanks to your lucky stars to be able to hear a performance of Bach's music as good as this one.
Orgelbewegung? Quatsch! Es war einfach Musiik!
Finistereny 2 years ago 2
What the heck are you talking about????
tippymugs 2 years ago
I have no issue with the tempo, but I do with just about everything else: registration lacks simplicity, esp. the central section, which lacks any sense of a plein jeu or the splendor a simple principal chorus. Instead, we have an incessant pumping of the swell and a booming Open Wood in the pedal throughout. A valuable documentation of the English style, which apparently persisted well after the Organ Reform movement took hold elsewhere.
Rankett16 2 years ago
This is being played too fast.
tippymugs 2 years ago
BWV 572: "The Ascension (of Jesus Christ)". The best executor? Anton Heiller.
gilles2777 2 years ago