Bach: Schübler Chorales, BWV 542; Passacaglia & Fugue, BWV 582

• Main performer: Simon Preston
• Booklet languages: English
• Time: 71:13
• Release Date: 1992

Review

These recordings of Bach's organ works are among Simon Preston's finest efforts for Deutsche Grammophon. The Toccata, Adagio & Fugue in C major opens the recording and serves as a suitable introduction to Preston's meticulous approach. Transparent registrations, proportioned phrasing, and sureness of touch bring out the finest details, and the tripartite work is rendered with the coherence of a sonata. The brooding Fantasia and Fugue in G minor is balanced between its free scalar passages and tightly bound chromatic counterpoint. Preston cleanly separates the fugue's voices to bring out each statement of the subject. Of the six "Schübler Chorales," the most famous is Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, performed here with clearly articulated phrasing and a penetrating reed-stop distinguishing the chorale melody. The remaining chorales are more subdued, though "Kommst du nun, Jesu, vom Himmel herunter" brings a jubilant conclusion to the set. The Toccata and Fugue in F major is full-bodied and resonant. Although the tempo is brisk in the Toccata, the Fugue is taken at a stately and measured pace. Preston's consistent tone and exceptional coloration in the Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor take Bach's invention to a sublime level that is seldom matched in other performances. ~ Blair Sanderson, Rovi

Performances

Composer	Title	Time
Johann Sebastian Bach	Toccata, Adagio and Fugue, for organ in C major, BWV 564 (BC J36)	14:40
Johann Sebastian Bach	Fantasia and Fugue, for organ in G minor ("Great"), BWV 542 (BC J42, 57, 67)	10:51
Johann Sebastian Bach	Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, chorale prelude for organ (Schübler Chorale No. 1), BWV 645 (BC K22)	4:06
Johann Sebastian Bach	Wo soll ich fliehen hin (I), chorale prelude for organ (Schübler Chorale No. 2), BWV 646 (BC K23)	1:32
Johann Sebastian Bach	Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten (II), chorale prelude for organ (Schübler Chorale No. 3), BWV 647 (BC K24)	3:44
Johann Sebastian Bach	Meine Seele erhebet den Herren, chorale prelude for organ (Schübler Chorale No. 4), BWV 648 (BC K25)	2:20
Johann Sebastian Bach	Ach bleib' bei uns, Herr Jesu Christ, chorale prelude for organ ("Schübler No. 5"), BWV 649 (BC K26)	2:31
Johann Sebastian Bach	Kommst du nun, Jesu, vom Himmel herunter, chorale prelude for organ (Schübler Chorale No. 6), BWV 650 (BC K27)	3:24
Johann Sebastian Bach	Toccata and Fugue, for organ in F major, BWV 540 (BC J39, 55, 73)	14:18
Johann Sebastian Bach	Passacaglia and Fugue, for organ in C minor, BWV 582 (BC J79)	13:47

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