Search - Bach, Kastner, Lehotka :: Toccata & Fugue / Organ Works / Praeludium & Fuge

Poor organ and registration

Allan C. Jackson | Plainfield, New Jersey United States | 08/07/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I received this cd a while back from a fellow organist and friend. This cd contains many of the finest works of Bach, and for that matter the finest and most sublime pieces one will come in contact with anywhere. The first piece is actually played by a different organist on a different organ than the rest of the pieces in the cd. I believe this to be the case because the second organ lacks the power and forcefullness of the first, used to play Toccata and Fugue in D minor. The price offered is tempting indeed, but beware, the sound quality isn't great and the second organ, used for three monumental works, just doesn't seem to have what it takes. Everything else besides Prelude and Fugue in E flat major (St. Anne), Fantasie and Fugue in A minor and Prelude and Fugue in G minor, is played as best as possible considering the less than stellar acoustics in tracks 2-10, and rather poor recording qualtity *relative* to digital recordings. Subsequently, I feel this cd should be bought by organists surveying registrations and the interpretations of various works, but not by the 'lay' person looking for some good recordings. For those looking for such a recording search on amazon for Peter Hurford, Ton Koopman, or Helmut Walcha. I hope I have been as helpful as humanly possible!"