Search - Bach, E Power Biggs :: Organ Works / Toccata & Fugue

Very valuable recording

Guy Cutting | 06/12/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Bach reigns supreme on the organ, without question. Lovers of music, even lovers specifically of organ music, often have trouble naming any composer of organ music except J.S. Bach. His mastery is undeniable, his legacy amazing, his influence immeasurable. All of his organ works are technical marvels but can also hold deep emotional resonance. The works recorded here are some of the most famous of Bach's: the Passacaglia and fugue, the "Great" prelude and fugue in g, the b minor prelude and fugue, and of course the Toccata and Fugue in d minor. This recording presents material which makes a great introduction to Bach's organ music (which it was for me, several years ago) - but don't be fooled: even if you have much experience with this kind of music the performances recorded here are worth hearing. I happen to think that Biggs is one of the greatest organists of our century, and this recording will tell you why (imitation is the sincerest form of flattery - as an organist myself I often follow some of his interpretive choices). His choice of stops is always apt - they provide the proper mood and are always rich in contrast. His sense of tempo is EXCELLENT - I think it is a product of a musical understanding and outlook which are unique to an earlier generation of performers, and which have been lost. He does not force the pacing - rather, he allows the music to speak for itself. His articulation and phrasing are equally good. I could go on, but suffice it to say that his technique is marvelous. The net effect, though, goes beyond all that. As I said, Bach's organ music contains a wide range of emotion (contrary to what many people think). The Passacaglia is one of the most earth-shatteringly powerful works of art ever concieved - one description I like is that it's a journey "through a spectrum of tragic emotion orchestrated into a riveting narrative" (credit goes to the Bach FAQ website for that). Biggs conveys that dimension of the work, building narrative up slowly to a tremendous climax. That interpretive skill is present throughout the recording, not just in the Passacaglia. The organ played on is the Flentrop organ at Harvard University (the recording was initially done in the 60's - sorry I can't remember the specific date right off hand) and is a powerful instrument with a wide range of sounds. The acoustic is good. The recording, unfortunately, shows signs of age in the form of audible hiss. I wish the remastering was better but I won't lie to you - the sound is definitely not digital. But don't let that deter you: it's a minor problem which does not outweigh the amazing merits of this disc. A great buy..."

The best I've heard

cmpst52 | Denton, NC United States | 08/31/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This was the first organ CD I ever bought, and the quality, the beauty so impressed me that I have purchased many, many more CD's by Bach or other composers, and by Biggs and other performers.Without a doubt, this one is the best. Every time I get a new CD, I still find myself listening to this one again within a few days, instead of the new one.The other Biggs recording (Amazon number ASIN: B0000026HJ ) is the second best organ CD I have, but this CD towers above even it."

The best organ CD I have ever heard!

Roger Burks | Riverside, CA United States | 07/27/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is by far the best organ CD I have in my collection of 400+ classical CD's. Biggs is excellent! The strikingly modern (timeless?) structure that is commonly attributed to Bach's organ music comes through admirably here. This is an excellent intro to organ music as well, as it contains most of the best of Bach's organ music (though it lacks the famous Little Fugue). There are no throwaway selections on this CD. It is the most requested CD in my collection!"