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Joseph P. Farrell posted an update 8 years, 2 months ago
Prelude and Fugue in D Major, BWV 532… one of many “organist’s nightmares”.
I am sure I’ve posted this before, but I do so again. Listen to how Barthen (Christian Barthen, one of Europe’s best young organists), allows the instrument to BREATHE, and plays Up tempo (relatively fast, as befitting the energy built into the piece). This is essential. He also follows a basic “rule” of organ playing (often NOT taught in this country): upward skips of a fifth or a fourth have a slight “pause for breath”. You’ll hear this in the prelude’s middle section. I have a number of other small “quibbles” here (for example, I like to put a mordant on the low pedal F# that begins the second section of the prelude, just for a little “extra drama”). The fugue is “athletic” (you’ll see why) and even Barthen kind of leans back and breathes a sigh of relief at the end of it that he made it through ok.
And yes folks, this is a virual pipe organ.
The Giza Forum (Legacy)
Closed Archive of The Old Forum
very cool, it’s as if Bach requires the organist to disclose something rather than just interpret something
Most definitely. My complaint about most organists in America and France is they fell prey to Dupre… endless legato and “qauntization”. Playing the notes, not the music.
preparation and execution…sounds like epiclesis (?)
Interesting idea… I think it IS true that, if played properly, the organ gives the player and audience a kind of religious ecstasy.