Search - Bach, Chorzempa :: Bach: Toccata & Fugue, BWV565; Prelude, Largo (BWV 529/2) & Fugue, BWV 545; Prelude & Fugue, BWV552

Simply the Best Toccata and Fugue

James Schulze | 07/12/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Toccata and Fugue lends itself easily to misinterpretation. Having been used as the Big Dark Castle theme in every horror cartoon since 1925, its easy for it's interpreters to take a bigger, faster, and louder approach to what could be so much more beautiful and restrained. Chorzempa's interpretation is simply stunning, and possibly like no other version you've ever heard. He is able to bring emotion out of passages that you may not have even realized existed. He plays the opening motif in a way that is light, yet grand, and this seems to be his way of interpreting the whole of the piece. The most stunning passage is the second section, where he employs dream-like stop settings and creates a call-and-response interaction between soaring arpeggios. This is not a Toccata and Fugue based on fear and power, but on true yearning and emotion. Simply incredible."

Daniel Chorzempa at Bovenkerk Organ - Bach

Robert V. Lindquist | Hemet, CA | 09/06/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Many years ago I thought E. Power Biggs working at one of the world's great organs was the next thing to acoustical bliss. I bought two of his albums and enrolled in piano studies as a first step toward becoming an organ virtuoso. Sadly, this dream was dashed by more pressing goals at that period of my life. Occasional cuts heard over the years, oftimes on the old KFAC FM station. They exposed me to other great organists and their interpretations. But it was clear fourty years ago that Master Biggs was the top draw in a very exclusive field. A few months back, however, I was given a stack of LP albums for playing on my vintage Fischer sound system and in that collection was a Philips recording of Daniel Chorzempa performing Bach's Toccata & Fugue replete with the Prelude, Largo & Fugue and the Prelude and Fugue. The first time I started the record turning, I promptly canceled my listening session because something seemed out of whack with the artists timing of the Toccata & Fugue. A couple of weeks later, I set the record spinning again and attempted to slip into a pure listening/meditation exercise. Five minutes into the experience and any disappointment vanished. I was at the point of tears several times because, regardless of instrumental medium, I have never had the mind and musical magic of Bach revealed with such authenticity. Do I know enough to say this? Perhaps not, I just sense it and would not be the least bit surprised if many others have experienced a similar sense of being very close to Bach in this. It is rightly done to the point of being inimitable. Chorzempa understands what Bach and perhaps the supreme musical creator expects of the organ and organist. I turn the old music system up and feel like my modest living room had been transformed into Holland's beautiful Bovenkerk,the great organ bursting out of my rooftop. Every counterpunctual note and chord is wonderful!"

Agree with reviewer # 1, Disagree with reviewer # 2

Gabriel Betesh | New York | 03/27/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Yes, I listened to Alain's version that which reviewer # 2 alludes to and to me Chorzempa's verssion flows much much better than Alain's. So I totally agree with reviewer # 1. I wrote a favorable comment on that review which I will copy here. Thank you.

So, so true, over 18 years I've listened to many play this piece, including E Power Biggs and great many others. To me Chorzempa is the one to make this piece most heavenly in a gentle way like no other, which is what I think Bach meant when he wrote this.

This review is right on the money! I would've liked to have written my own review but this review is more comprehensive than what I had in mind, I can only add to it in a small fashion. Hurrah"