Bach, Organ Masterworks – vol. 2
Programme
Bach: Organ Masterworks
Toccata & Fugue in d, BWV 565 Nun komm’ der Heiden Heiland, BWV 659, 660, 661 Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend, BWV 655 Fantasia in c, BWV 562 Ouverture à la française, BWV 831 Toccata, Adagio & Fugue in C, BWV 564 Wachet auf ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 645 Fantaisia & Fugue in g, BWV 542 Sonatina/Actus Tragicus, BWV 106 In dir ist Freude, BWV 615
G. Silbermann organ (1755) of the Cathedral / Hofkirche, Dresden (Germany)
Claves Records CD 50–1008, www.claves.ch, 2009/2010
Executive producer: Thierry Scherz Recording: Image & Son Recording engineer: Jean-Claude Gaberel
Text: Gilles Cantagrel English commentary inside Mit deutscher Textbeilage Texte en français
"After her magnificent Buxtehude boxed-set in 2007 (CD 50–2704/06), and a first volume dedicated to Johann-Sebastian Bach (CD 50–2908), Japanese organist Kei Koito pursues her collaboration with Claves Records by laying the second stone of a cycle dedicated to masterpieces by the Cantor of Saint-Thomas. Recorded on the organ of Dresden Cathedral (formerly Hofkirche), she presents an anthology of pieces selected with utmost care, as always. The grand Toccata and Fugue in D Minor BWV 565 – undoubtedly Bach’s most famous work – opens the recording. This is followed by three Chorales for Advent time, written on the well-known hymn "Nun komm’ der Heiden Heiland": pages found in the collection left by the musician on his work table at the time of his death. The Fantasy in C Minor BWV 562 occupies the central part of the CD, going back both to the French tradition (through its theme and ornamentation) and to the great German polyphony school (through its monumental five-part Ricercar). France – for whom Bach had the greatest of admiration – is also featured in the following work: the Overture in B Minor BWV 831, a transcription by Kei Koito herself of a work originally for harpsichord – an art in which she excels. Next on the programme are a "triptych", which may or may not have been conceived as such by Bach (there is no signature to prove authenticity), and the Fantasy and Fugue in G Minor BWV 542, composed to dazzle all of Hamburg when Bach applied for the post of organist at Saint James’s church – for which he was unanimously nominated but refused to buy the duty, preferring to remain in Coethen. The CD ends on two pieces bathed in light: the opening Sonatina of Cantata 106 (known as "Actus Tragicus"), transcribed for the organ by Alexandre Guilmant, and the Italian hymn "In dir ist Freude" BWV 615."
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