Christoph Schoener - J.S. Bach: The Organ Toccatas (2015)
WEB | FLAC (tracks) - 329 MB | 01:18:01
Genre: Classical | Label: MDG Scene
WEB | FLAC (tracks) - 329 MB | 01:18:01
Genre: Classical | Label: MDG Scene
Amid the never ending list of available recordings of Bach's organ works, it's nice to see a new SACD being released that brings all of his brilliant Toccatas together on one disc. These works, which capture a snapshot of Bach letting his hair down, showcase the essence of the composer at his best. Highly spirited music, brimming with expressive freedom bordering on the ecstatic. Organist Christoph Schoener certainly perceives these elements within the music and delivers up-tempo, animated and exuberant readings of all the pieces that call for it. The highlight for me on this disc is the account of the Toccata in F, BWV 540. A brilliant work, even by Bach's standards, with outstanding harmonic development throughout, underpinned by solid and long-sustained pedal notes upon which Bach constructed cathedrals of sound. For this work in particular, Christoph Schoener plays on the Great Organ to full effect. Those long pedal notes, solid and true, combined with the flurry of notes rushing high above, generate a sound that can only be compared to the sound you might hear, or rather feel, sitting in the belly of a military Hercules Transport plane in full flight. And at the other end of the spectrum, this same instrument's flute stops produce a beautiful sound in the captivating Adagio in C, BWV 564.
Opulent room effect was also a motivating idea behind the recently completed restoration of the organs. The powerful "Grand Organ" in the west with eighty-six stops on five manuals of course forms the focus. The "Concert Organ" on the south loft contributes romantic color, and thanks to musical providence an unusually richly endowed "Echo Organ" that can be operated as an entirely independent organ from the central playing unit could be installed in the higher regions. The "Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach Organ" has a special appeal; with its unequal temperament it naturally is used only as a solitaire on the north loft. (MDG)
The only quibble I have with this recording has to do with the acoustics inside this large building and the spatial layout of these multiple organs. The reverberation is a bit on the long side, which sometimes creates a slight muddled effect within some of the faster and highly contrapuntal passages. Perhaps a different microphone setup may have helped mitigate this problem, but then you would lose the sense of scope usually associated with these large church buildings. A slight quibble on my part, which should not take away from the enjoyable aspects of this new MDG recording of Bach's masterworks.
Track List:
1. Toccata con Fuga in D Minor, BWV 565: I. Toccata 02:34
2. Toccata con Fuga in D Minor, BWV 565: II. Fuga 06:30
3. Toccata in E Major, BWV 566 10:51
4. Toccata, Adagio et Fuga in C Major, BWV 564: I. Toccata 06:08
5. Toccata, Adagio et Fuga in C Major, BWV 564: II. Adagio 04:23
6. Toccata, Adagio et Fuga in C Major, BWV 564: III. Fuga 05:28
7. Allein Gott in der Höh' sei Ehr for Organ Solo, BWV 662 08:00
8. Toccata et Fuga in F Major, BWV 540: I. Toccata 09:17
9. Toccata et Fuga in F Major, BWV 540: II. Fuga 06:26
10. Erbarm dich mein, o Herre Gott for Organ Solo, BWV 721 04:13
11. Toccata et Fuga in D Minor, BWV 538: I. Toccata 05:46
12. Toccata et Fuga in D Minor, BWV 538: II. Fuga 08:25
Performers:
Christoph Schoener (organ)
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FILE: 01 - Christoph Schoener - Toccata con Fuga in D Minor, BWV 565- I. Toccata.flac
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FILE: 08 - Christoph Schoener - Toccata et Fuga in F Major, BWV 540- I. Toccata.flac
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FILE: 11 - Christoph Schoener - Toccata et Fuga in D Minor, BWV 538- I. Toccata.flac
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Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: 5D823FDE5CA4076ED7595CD1B659F63E60F4571D
DON'T MODIFY THIS FILE
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PERFORMER: auCDtect Task Manager, ver. 1.6.0 RC1 build 1.6.0.1
Copyright © 2008-2010 y-soft. All rights reserved
http://y-soft.org
ANALYZER: auCDtect: CD records authenticity detector, version 0.8.2
Copyright © 2004 Oleg Berngardt. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2004 Alexander Djourik. All rights reserved.
FILE: 01 - Christoph Schoener - Toccata con Fuga in D Minor, BWV 565- I. Toccata.flac
Size: 11774514 Hash: 4AAFFA434CFF13A3825345C348101105 Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 99%
Signature: D2CA2CDAFC81900F50B1879840775B23A69BA429
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Conclusion: CDDA 99%
Signature: 395D49B3150E0171F72F1ECF18F0B70DD116E5AE
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Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: 43AD7E3226F14A8CCADDF8567DC2AD3BDBA63FFD
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Conclusion: CDDA 100%
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Conclusion: CDDA 100%
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Conclusion: CDDA 100%
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Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: 5D823FDE5CA4076ED7595CD1B659F63E60F4571D