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dougmon
01-08-2015, 13:57
I have recently been listening to the complete Bach Organ Works recorded by James Kibbie, a professor at the University of Michigan. Although I'm certainly not a connoisseur of these works, I've been enjoying the recordings a great deal.

These works are available as a free download -- check the article here (http://www.openculture.com/2011/11/a_big_bach_download_the_complete_organ_works_free. html).

I hope someone out there gets as much enjoyment out of these as I have. :)

Gordon Steadman
01-08-2015, 14:30
Thanks for the link. I'm in the middle of downloading them now and will listen to some later. Bach is god as far as I'm concerned so I'm really interested in hearing these.

dougmon
02-08-2015, 12:39
Gordon, I would be very interested in your impressions. I've heard a lot of Bach choral works, but very few of the organ works until I picked these up.

Gordon Steadman
02-08-2015, 12:48
Gordon, I would be very interested in your impressions. I've heard a lot of Bach choral works, but very few of the organ works until I picked these up.

I have only listened to a few of the trio sonatas so far. The main attraction is having a complete set all played by the same musician on the same organ. As far as the sound is concerned, I tried it on the main system and found it a bit flat and murky but as it is MP4 that is no surprise. On the Mac direct (Airplay to the main system) it's not too bad but still lacks clarity.

The performances are adequate I think. The guy is a teacher rather than a top class performer - not that it means he can't be brilliant of course - and there is some lack of articulation and structure.

That's the crap over. Did I enjoy them? Yes.

One of the problems with having so much at once is the temptation to listen through and get listening fatigue. I will dip in and out as usual and I'm sure they will get played. As I come across stuff I already have, it will be interesting to compare versions.

Thanks again for the link. I'm pleased to have them in the collection.

dougmon
02-08-2015, 20:22
Thanks, Gordon. I always value the opinions of others (except when I don't :) ). I have to say, though: I value these recordings partly because they're the first Bach organ works I've listened to that weren't recorded as "SONIC BLOCKBUSTERS!!!!"

Apropos of "here is a Bach recording you might not have heard of but that I think is good", you might want to check out this site: http://www.welltemperedclavier.org/ -- these are the only piano versions of the Well-Tempered etc. that I've really grown fond of.

Gordon Steadman
02-08-2015, 20:42
Thanks, Gordon. I always value the opinions of others (except when I don't :) ). I have to say, though: I value these recordings partly because they're the first Bach organ works I've listened to that weren't recorded as "SONIC BLOCKBUSTERS!!!!"

Apropos of "here is a Bach recording you might not have heard of but that I think is good", you might want to check out this site: http://www.welltemperedclavier.org/ -- these are the only piano versions of the Well-Tempered etc. that I've really grown fond of.

I will have a look but I have a complete Glen Gould set and I love the way Gould plays Bach.

dougmon
02-08-2015, 22:13
I will have a look but I have a complete Glen Gould set and I love the way Gould plays Bach.

We all have our favorites, I guess. For Bach, I particularly like Leonhardt on the harpsichord and Andras Schiff on the piano. I probably haven't given Gould the attention I should have -- I had a professor who disliked him for some reason, and so I listened to the professor and not to Gould. But it's been forty years since college -- maybe I should try listening to Gould again. :)

jandl100
01-11-2015, 08:59
Did you ever get around to trying Gould's Bach, Doug? - the Gouldberg Variations are especially famous!

Complete organ works - available on Spotify if you do that - Walcha & Alain. Different from each other but both wonderful.

https://open.spotify.com/album/20oYh53HLhY5SeJbJMcxeY

https://open.spotify.com/album/2b2EXjhwM5giw1Mo3caWhj

r100
01-11-2015, 09:34
HI , thanks ! Got me testing some organ music on my amp and your link sounded quite flat so I checked this one from Signum Classics / Trinity College out and it sounds much fuller... What do you think ? Greets

https://open.spotify.com/track/05UfT1JhNavNJoZa6RkJhI

dougmon
01-11-2015, 13:00
Did you ever get around to trying Gould's Bach, Doug? - the Gouldberg Variations are especially famous!

Complete organ works - available on Spotify if you do that - Walcha & Alain. Different from each other but both wonderful.

https://open.spotify.com/album/20oYh53HLhY5SeJbJMcxeY

https://open.spotify.com/album/2b2EXjhwM5giw1Mo3caWhj

I have not yet listened to Gould playing Bach, largely because of the insane amount of music I already have to listen to. I've put it on my Tidal list, though.

About the organ stuff -- I have some recordings of Walcha playing Bach organ works, and it's one of my favorites. Seems to me to be a very straightforward presentation, and I enjoy it a lot.

I've heard a little of the Marie-Claire Alain, and I like it quite a lot. Her approach is different than most of the recordings I've previously heard and so kind of refreshing.

I'll probably be purchasing the complete works by one or both.

Another organist I like is Kevin Bowyer. He's recorded the complete organ works; they're kind of pricey, but I'll probably be picking them up over the years.

I wish I could find a version I could settle on, but there are too many good interpretations to settle on just one.

dougmon
01-11-2015, 13:02
HI , thanks ! Got me testing some organ music on my amp and your link sounded quite flat so I checked this one from Signum Classics / Trinity College out and it sounds much fuller... What do you think ? Greets

https://open.spotify.com/track/05UfT1JhNavNJoZa6RkJhI

I have not heard this one yet. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

dougmon
01-11-2015, 15:50
I forgot to mention this: I found a listing of opinions on this site: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/NVD/Organ-Complete-Gen1.htm

This is where I first heard of Alain and Walcha.

dougmon
02-11-2015, 01:03
Did you ever get around to trying Gould's Bach, Doug? - the Gouldberg Variations are especially famous!


Since posting my previous reply to you, I've gotten around to listening to both the 1955 and 1981 Gould recordings of the Goldberg Variations. I have to say I'm a little lukewarm on the 1955; much of it seems too rushed to me. The 1981 recording, however, seems "just right" -- I'm listening to it right now and really enjoying it. I think this might go against the common wisdom, but there you are.

jandl100
02-11-2015, 06:49
^^ I am in total agreement with you. :)

dougmon
02-11-2015, 12:31
^^ I am in total agreement with you. :)

Nice to hear. Are there any other versions of the Goldbergs that you like. I was thinking of trying the Andras Schiff, since I like his version of the English Suites. And the French suites, too, come to think of it... :)

jandl100
02-11-2015, 19:12
Ah, we differ at last! - I'm not keen on Schiff's playing. :)

In the Goldbergs ....

I'm not usually a fan of Murray Perahia, at least his earlier recordings. But his Goldbergs are wonderful on Sony.
Lifschitz on Denon is also fab.

Suzuki on BIS for it played on the harpsichord.

And Hussong does a wonderful reading on the accordion on Thorofon!

dougmon
03-11-2015, 02:30
Ah, we differ at last! - I'm not keen on Schiff's playing. :)

Well, what kind of an audio forum would it be if we couldn't find something to disagree about?


In the Goldbergs ....

I'm not usually a fan of Murray Perahia, at least his earlier recordings. But his Goldbergs are wonderful on Sony.
Lifschitz on Denon is also fab.

Suzuki on BIS for it played on the harpsichord.

And Hussong does a wonderful reading on the accordion on Thorofon!

The Perahia seems easily available. I'll check that out.

As far as harpsichord versions go, Leonhardt is my favorite for both the Goldbergs and the Well-Tempered Clavier.

jandl100
03-11-2015, 07:11
Yep, you just can't go wrong with Leonhardt - a wonderful player.

Do try that Goldberg on the accordion. It's just a small organ really, and works wonderfully well in bringing out the part writing. :)
Here it is on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/album/5oJbepFgfWXgP7y9lke0ks

dougmon
03-11-2015, 13:00
Yep, you just can't go wrong with Leonhardt - a wonderful player.

Do try that Goldberg on the accordion. It's just a small organ really, and works wonderfully well in bringing out the part writing. :)
Here it is on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/album/5oJbepFgfWXgP7y9lke0ks

I'll check it out, thanks. I do like a little accordion now and then :)

jandl100
03-11-2015, 13:30
... and I forgot to mention my favourite multiple instrument transcription of the Goldbergs - by Fretwork.

http://www.fretwork.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Goldbergs.jpg

https://open.spotify.com/album/5O40GR5YkaOwgAF4v6jvA7

dougmon
04-11-2015, 04:03
... and I forgot to mention my favourite multiple instrument transcription of the Goldbergs - by Fretwork.

http://www.fretwork.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Goldbergs.jpg

https://open.spotify.com/album/5O40GR5YkaOwgAF4v6jvA7


Here I'm afraid we disagree again; I had Fretwork's "Art of The Fugue" and I just never could come to grips with it. I like a consort of viols playing late English Renaissance music, but the Bach stuff they do just doesn't appeal to me.

jandl100
04-11-2015, 06:30
Here I'm afraid we disagree again; I had Fretwork's "Art of The Fugue" and I just never could come to grips with it. I like a consort of viols playing late English Renaissance music, but the Bach stuff they do just doesn't appeal to me.

Fair enough.
I've not tried their Art of Fugue.
... listening now.
Yup, that works for me. Very lucid portrayal of the part writing, good pacing, lovely instrumental textures - yum!!

dougmon
04-11-2015, 12:49
Fair enough.
I've not tried their Art of Fugue.
... listening now.
Yup, that works for me. Very lucid portrayal of the part writing, good pacing, lovely instrumental textures - yum!!

I'm sorry, but I'm having real trouble with adult discourse on an audio forum. Don't you at least have the impulse to insult my intelligence? :)

jandl100
04-11-2015, 13:16
You deaf twat. :ner:


--- is that better? :)

dougmon
04-11-2015, 13:54
You deaf twat. :ner:


--- is that better? :)

Much better.

dougmon
05-11-2015, 01:49
Not to hijack this thread, but here's one of my favorite viol consort albums:

http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_500/MI0000/979/MI0000979512.jpg?partner=allrovi.com

jandl100
05-11-2015, 06:37
:thumbsup: - I shall check it out.

dougmon
07-11-2015, 15:31
... and I forgot to mention my favourite multiple instrument transcription of the Goldbergs - by Fretwork.

http://www.fretwork.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Goldbergs.jpg

https://open.spotify.com/album/5O40GR5YkaOwgAF4v6jvA7

Gave this a bit more of a chance; it's growing on me. My wallet isn't too happy, but my ears are.

Lawrence001
13-01-2017, 21:21
I was always fussy about instruments matching the period of the music but more recently I've got relaxed about it. There must have been a few people in 18th century Germany still playing their old viols after all so it's an authentic performance of them playing Bach!


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