• Welcome to the Pipe Organ Forum! This is a part of the open community Magle International Music Forums focused on pipe organs (also known as "church organs"), organists, organ music and related topics.

    This forum is intended to be a friendly place where technically advanced organists and beginners (or even non-organists) can feel comfortable having discussions and asking questions. We learn by reading and asking questions, and it is hoped that the beginners (or non-organists) will feel free to ask even the simplest questions, and that the more advanced organists will patiently answer these questions. On the other hand, we encourage complex, technical discussions of technique, music, organ-building, etc. The opinions and observations of a diverse group of people from around the world should prove to be interesting and stimulating to all of us.

    As pipe organ discussions can sometimes become lively, it should be pointed out that this is an open forum. Statements made here are the opinion of the poster, and not necessarily that of the forum itself, its administrator, or its moderators.

    In order to post a new topic - or reply to existing ones - you may join and become a member by clicking on Register New User. It's completely free and only requires a working email address (in order to confirm your registration - it will never be given away!). We strive to make this a friendly and informative forum for anyone interested in pipe organs and organ music.

    (Note: If you wish to link to and promote your own website please read this thread first.)

    Many kind regards
    smile.gif

    Frederik Magle
    Administrator

    Krummhorn
    Co-Administrator

The new project

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
You have great determination, Jonesey ... it's a wonderful piece, one that I've not yet played.
 

FinnViking

Member
I will probably be laughed at loud, but I think that is one of the most boring pieces of Bach. Nothing really happens in the piece. I prefer pieces with more motion and variety. It's a matter of taste of course and I wish you luck. I played the piece when I studied in mid 90's but never since.
 

JONESEY

New member
FinnViking - well, that's the beauty of music, what's good for one person isn't good for another. As you say, a matter of taste.
I'm enjoying learning it, and it suits my taste, style and ability right now

Lars - I've only just started ... why don't you do it as well and we can compare notes (no pun intended) when we both have it cracked!
 

pcnd5584

New member
I will probably be laughed at loud, but I think that is one of the most boring pieces of Bach. Nothing really happens in the piece. I prefer pieces with more motion and variety. It's a matter of taste of course and I wish you luck. I played the piece when I studied in mid 90's but never since.

I would not laugh at you - but I disagree entirely with your viewpoint.


I have played the piece in public on many occasions, and it has always been well received. Although I like the stately flow of the prelude, I find the architecture of the fugue
particularly satisfying . It works well in several different ways. However, I prefer to begin this fugue with all the 8ft. foundations coupled, and gradually increase (at appropriate points) to the full organ - minus the chamade, of course. I regard the last section as approaching the sublime.

I should choose this prelude and fugue over the tedious, hackneyed '565' any day.

FinnViking - listen to it again - really listen. If you are looking for superficial excitement, in the form of scale-passages, or arpeggio figuration, or perhaps dramatic chord sequences, then this might not be the piece for you. However, if you can look beyond such surface 'enjoyment', and appreciate the real substance of this superb composition, then you may well be able to appreciate it in an entirely new way.

The manner in which the fugue grows from the inauspicious announcement of the subject, to the bold, exhilarating final, grand harmonisation, I find eminently satisfying.

 
Last edited:
Top