JS Bach - O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde gross (BWV 622)

Recorded at Paris, Saint Jacques du Haut Pas (chancel Organ Cavaillé-Coll).

Please comment! (more to come in case of positive feedback)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Organ
• Bach
• BWV622

[christianvs1]

ARGGGG!!!!! Poor Bach.... This is so NOT a piece of Franck or even Reger!! What on earth is this performer doing with a celeste and gamba as the solo stop! Is this a joke? If so, LOL!! But, no, this is soooo NOT on! It's just wrong!

[PetitNazard]

My god, silly me! I just checked Wikipedia and well... you are right, this piece was written by Bach. Obviously, he would have forbid to play it with a gamba and celeste. Thanks for opening my eyes. I thought this was a romantic piece, and am really grateful you teached me something. I am going to flagellate myself 10, no, at least 20 times tonight for my ignorance and lack of musical taste, and come back asking for your pardon.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ouch!

[PetitNazard]

Thank you Rankett16 and Bachlives2.

Glad to see that there are still open-minded people left about Celeste amongst Bach organ music lovers! Indeed, I had a choice between the completely out-of-tune Basson-hautbois, the Vox humana that sounded too aggressive in my opinion and the Celeste, which sounded surprisingly well-fitted for my humble appreciation of this piece.

[byng51028]

Je n'aime pas du tout les jeux utilises. Bien joue, mais soyez un peu plus flexible en termes du mouvement.

[PetitNazard]

Non, j'estime que c'est déjà bien assez "flexible". Sûrement trop même pour certains puristes. Il ne s'agit pas de musique romantique tout de même!

[giorgiocon47]

Bravo. Non sono d'accordo con i filologi...troppa rigidità fa male alla musica. Importante è l'emozione che essa suscita nell'ascoltatore anche se i registri non sono quelli indicati dall'autore.

[PetitNazard]

Thank you.

I totally agree with you, rigidity is bad for music.

[Bachlives2]

Bach had Celestes! at Namburg! There was a Principal Celeste so why not use a string celeste I like it very much! Believe me I am all about authenticity!

[gjjensen13]

@christianvs1 That being understood, I feel his ornamentation should be commended. It was simple and well done. This piece is often given by teachers to teach baroque ornamentation. Well done.

[mistergiorgio1]

Non conosco la lingua francese nè l'inglese ma si comprende l'esagerazione nella critica ! La filologia, ok! Ma , credo , Bach può essere suonato anche in Africa battendo i cantabili su noci di cocco..............funziona lo stesso ! Provare per credere!!! Son d'accordo con "giorgiocon47" 

[Totennebel]

@PetitNazard

The interpretation is absolutely fine.

Of course it's not a baroque interpretation, but still a beautiful one.

We have enough baroque interpreters of Bach's music.

[jice0610]

je regrette mais je trouve cette interprétation très fidèle à l'esprit de ce choral également dans sa registration que les faciles critiqueurs réfléchissent un peu au sens du choral , c'est une pièce qui doit être profondément méditative avec beaucoup de profondeur et tout y est : tempo, regsitration j'ai même entendu des gens ajouter un tremblant à la voix celeste sans aller jusqu'à je trouve l'esprit du choral respect de l'esprit du choral respecté n'en déplaise aux nullards.

[Uraia]

Such a beautiful and delicious "romantic" rendition! Bravo! Pay no attention to the boring subject of 'philologists'... Do they know Bach tested the Hildebrand's organ in Naumburg St. Wenzel in 1746? The original disposition of this instrument provided for an 'Unda Maris' in the Oberwerk...

[juan0juan]

I rather like this!! Perhaps the modern neo-baroque school might shudder, but Bach certainly had sounds like this at his disposal and was renowned for his "adventurous" registrations. Have a look at the Trost organ at Walterhausen - viole and unda maris and a host of other 8 footers. This organ was in his back yard!!

[littlelaurence]

Bach is dead. No matter what the stupid scholars tell you, the world will not end when you put a celeste and gamba on the solo and play 'O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß'.

[Rankett16]

Your patronizing tone is insufferable. You are ignorant as well. This organ has no cornet or mutations at all. As for the Hautbois (there is a Basson-hautbois) you don't know whether it suitable in this case. On a small organ, you have to use what's available using your ears to judge. My ears tell me that our young organist made a good choice, but more importantly, he played it with mastery beyond his years.