Paul Elie makes the point that the organ wasn’t just the most complicated instrument, it was the most complex machine of the era - the supercomputer of the baroque. With Bach as its great master (as player, composer, and technical evaluator) he was something of a tech giant in his day.
A much as i get goosebumps with almost any of Bach´s organ works, do not particularly enjoy too dry recordings / small rooms. Somehow the sound of the instrument has become so entangled with the acoustics of the space where is located, as a unity. When the recording is too spacious and a blur of notes, it takes me to hear harmony at it´s most kaleidoscopic and emotional. With closer up recordings, it accents the more rational / design aspects of notes and figurations. I enjoy both experiences when listening to this extraordinary music.
Thank You for bringing this fantastic Album to my radar, your project and commentary is really fantastic and fun, thank you so much.
I find the quality of the recordings of the organ works to vary widely. I agree with you that they can fail for being too boomy or too dry. These recordings by Jorg I found to have the proper balance, and he gives thoughtful interpretations to the pieces.
A heretical confession. By the time all the overtones bounce against stone walls and travel variable distances to my ears, I hear a lot of grandiose mush whenever I listen to an organ. As gorgeous as the setting in York Minster is, I am frustrated in trying to sort out the notes. Is it just me?
Yeah, I think it depends on the organ, the organist, and the recording... some are definitely smeary. I think many of these recordings by Jorg are well articulated.
And the church too. I went to a performance by the Black Dyke band in Lincoln Cathedral and it was unlistenable. Same with the organ at York Minster, a huge organ in a huge hall. The "room" is critical, I suppose. I love some of those transcriptions by the Philly Orchestra. Romanticized, yes, but transparent. I also prefer piano to harpsichord. I should be flogged.
Delightful post, especially the aquarium reference. And heavily chromatic Bach is often just the best Bach.
Totally agree -- the chromatic Bach still sounds so fresh.
Paul Elie makes the point that the organ wasn’t just the most complicated instrument, it was the most complex machine of the era - the supercomputer of the baroque. With Bach as its great master (as player, composer, and technical evaluator) he was something of a tech giant in his day.
A much as i get goosebumps with almost any of Bach´s organ works, do not particularly enjoy too dry recordings / small rooms. Somehow the sound of the instrument has become so entangled with the acoustics of the space where is located, as a unity. When the recording is too spacious and a blur of notes, it takes me to hear harmony at it´s most kaleidoscopic and emotional. With closer up recordings, it accents the more rational / design aspects of notes and figurations. I enjoy both experiences when listening to this extraordinary music.
Thank You for bringing this fantastic Album to my radar, your project and commentary is really fantastic and fun, thank you so much.
Thank you Sergio!! I love these kinds of notes.
I find the quality of the recordings of the organ works to vary widely. I agree with you that they can fail for being too boomy or too dry. These recordings by Jorg I found to have the proper balance, and he gives thoughtful interpretations to the pieces.
Without doubt !, I`m really enjoying his interpretations, registration and character for each chorale. Cheers from Santiago Chile!.
...For anyone interested , i`m following the music (barely :) at some hyper dense bits), though Bach´s own hand writing, which adds to the goosebumps.
https://vmirror.imslp.org/files/imglnks/usimg/0/0d/IMSLP440252-PMLP08213-Partitur_D-B_Mus._ms._Bach_P_283.pdf
A heretical confession. By the time all the overtones bounce against stone walls and travel variable distances to my ears, I hear a lot of grandiose mush whenever I listen to an organ. As gorgeous as the setting in York Minster is, I am frustrated in trying to sort out the notes. Is it just me?
Yeah, I think it depends on the organ, the organist, and the recording... some are definitely smeary. I think many of these recordings by Jorg are well articulated.
And the church too. I went to a performance by the Black Dyke band in Lincoln Cathedral and it was unlistenable. Same with the organ at York Minster, a huge organ in a huge hall. The "room" is critical, I suppose. I love some of those transcriptions by the Philly Orchestra. Romanticized, yes, but transparent. I also prefer piano to harpsichord. I should be flogged.
Whatever works to keep you in the music is best. (This is an idea that I’ve grown into over the years… as a younger man I had much stronger opinions.)
I have that same problem listening to choral music in large churches - just a lot of mush.