Tell us your favourite Bach organ works!

tom · Jan-19-2007, 03:18

This must be a popular thread - what's your favourite Bach work (one might add: As of right now)? Choose your favourite prelude, toccata and/or fantasy with or without fugues or your favourite choral setting, or to hell with it - just tell us all about what Bach organ works you have a special feeling for!

Tough one, I know, but I'll start off: The dorian toccata and fugue is to me one the greatest works of organ litterature. The thematic simplicity and rhythmic drive of the toccata, which is remarkably easy listening compared to a lot of his grand works, and that majestic fugue. Wonderful!

Krummhorn · Jan-19-2007, 05:56

Praeludium and Fuge in E Flat Major (St. Anne) for Organ - I've always been delighted at how the Fuge begins and develops into the thundrous final theme cadence in the pedal.

acc · Jan-19-2007, 07:26

Passacaglia in c (BWV 582)

giovannimusica · Jan-19-2007, 11:38

Passacaglia & Fugue in c-minor

yury habrus · Jan-19-2007, 15:10

It depends on a mood: now I fond of Preludes and fugues in c minor BWV 546, D major BWV 532, Es-dur BWV 552, Fantasia and Fugue in g minor BWV 542, Fugue BWV 577. Passacaglia (with fugue, certainly

).
My favorites among Bach's chorale preludes are large Kyrie-Christe-Kyrie settings from ClavierUbung III (if to name the whole Clavierubung III is too much), dubious "Aus der Tiefe rufe ich" BWV 745 and more. I like very much chorales from Neumeister's collection.

Drinklicafix · Jan-19-2007, 18:12

yes, very tough question!! anyway, here goes:
Passacaglia & Fugue BWV 582 is my favourite but I also like BWVs 542 , 552 and 543 very much, especially the fugue of 543. Another piece I have a liking for is BWV 733, played slowly it's very grand, anyone else have any views on this piece?
Of course, as tom said the Dorian toccata & fugue is very impressive.

It looks like most people who have replied have fairly similar tastes! hehe

Sybarite · Jan-21-2007, 15:05

No points for originality here, but Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565.

This opens a CD of Simon Preston playing some of Bach's organ music that I have and that I often play on the way to work in the morning on my iPod. On a crowded bus, it's one of a number of pieces that seems to create a bubble of serenity that enables me to arrive at the office in a decent mental state.

Thomas Dressler · Jan-23-2007, 05:55

I guess overall I vote for the Dorian Toccata and Fugue, especially the fugue--I think one of the best he wrote.

Soubasse · Feb-15-2007, 04:09

Passacaglia and Fugue definitely No.1

'Great' Prelude and Fugue in a would be a close 2nd
but the other 'Great' P&F in c min could be an equal 2nd. I was turned onto that one standing next to Daniel Roth while he played it at St. Suplice. How could you not??

Jeffrey Hall · Feb-15-2007, 05:02

#1. Passacaglia and Fugue in c, BWV 582 -- I've just been making a MIDI sequence of it this past week. No question about its spot at #1, ever since I first heard it 25 years ago.

#2. Prelude and Fugue in e, "Wedge", BWV 548.

#3. Fantasia and Fugue in g, BWV 542. I played this in my last concert. Once the third countersubject enters in the fugue, you can just feel the audience on the edge of its seat!

#4. Komm, Herr Gott, Heiliger Geist, BWV 651. Why? Because of the superhuman proportions Bach brought to the chorale...as Beethoven would do to the classical symphony. The six solid minutes of Pentecostal imagery, rising from the opening pedal point, makes this for me the greatest of his chorales.

#5. Toccata and Fugue in d, "Dorian," BWV 538. This seems like a very underappreciated work. Thomas Dressler: I agree. It's truly a superb fugue.

I'll stop at 5. Of course there are numerous honorable mentions!

Simon Jansfort · Feb-16-2007, 19:49

Well, I haven't played so much Bach yet on organ. I used one of his pieces for my exam, but it's quite easy (if any bach is ...)

It's my favorite for now.
It's from the 8 small Preludes and Fugues and it's the one in G minor.

Simon

Jeffrey Hall · Feb-18-2007, 03:03

Simon,

That G minor sure brings back memories! It was the first "real" piece my first organ teacher introduced me to. After working through Gleason for some months, I was at my lesson one day when my teacher set up the 8-4-2-mixture-reed on the great and pedal and said, "How about trying this one?" Then he launched into the G minor. I still remember the goose bumps and thinking, OK, this is the instrument for me!

Though I think there is some debate that these pieces are by Krebs...but I don't know what the latest is about that.

EJN · Feb-23-2007, 16:15

Bach has composed many good works for organ, but my favourite in major is his majestetic E-flat prelude BWV 552 as I have performed many times and the following fugue.
In minor I chose his e-minor prelude BWV 548 and the following fugue which is very diffucult to play.

Contratrombone64 · Feb-26-2007, 00:38

I love the trio sonatas.

Soubasse · Mar-19-2007, 04:57

Aye, they are well in a class of their own really being neither chorale based or prelude, toccata or fugue. They are also rather difficult and excellent discipline to learn.

Jan-19-2007, 03:18	#1 (permalink)
tom Midshipman, Forte Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 32	Tell us your favourite Bach organ works! This must be a popular thread - what's your favourite Bach work (one might add: As of right now)? Choose your favourite prelude, toccata and/or fantasy with or without fugues or your favourite choral setting, or to hell with it - just tell us all about what Bach organ works you have a special feeling for! Tough one, I know, but I'll start off: The dorian toccata and fugue is to me one the greatest works of organ litterature. The thematic simplicity and rhythmic drive of the toccata, which is remarkably easy listening compared to a lot of his grand works, and that majestic fugue. Wonderful!

Jan-19-2007, 11:38	#4 (permalink)
giovannimusica Commodore de Cavaille-Coll Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 669	Favorite Bach organ work... Passacaglia & Fugue in c-minor

Feb-16-2007, 19:49	#11 (permalink)
Simon Jansfort Ensign, Principal Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Kolding, Denmark Posts: 56 Images: 5	Well, I haven't played so much Bach yet on organ. I used one of his pieces for my exam, but it's quite easy (if any bach is ...) It's my favorite for now. It's from the 8 small Preludes and Fugues and it's the one in G minor. Simon __________________ http://www.jansfort.com - A work in progress. http://blog.jansfort.com - my blog. Quite new. Both in danish

Feb-18-2007, 03:03	#12 (permalink)
Jeffrey Hall Ensign, Principal Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Flagstaff, Arizona, USA Posts: 74	Simon, That G minor sure brings back memories! It was the first "real" piece my first organ teacher introduced me to. After working through Gleason for some months, I was at my lesson one day when my teacher set up the 8-4-2-mixture-reed on the great and pedal and said, "How about trying this one?" Then he launched into the G minor. I still remember the goose bumps and thinking, OK, this is the instrument for me! Though I think there is some debate that these pieces are by Krebs...but I don't know what the latest is about that. __________________ Jeff Flagmusic

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Jan-19-2007, 05:56	#2 (permalink)
Krummhorn Administrator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Tucson, Arizona Posts: 5,567 Images: 41	Praeludium and Fuge in E Flat Major (St. Anne) for Organ - I've always been delighted at how the Fuge begins and develops into the thundrous final theme cadence in the pedal.

Jan-19-2007, 07:26	#3 (permalink)
acc Commodore con Forza Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 521	Passacaglia in c (BWV 582)

Jan-19-2007, 15:10	#5 (permalink)
yury habrus Midshipman, Forte Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 25	It depends on a mood: now I fond of Preludes and fugues in c minor BWV 546, D major BWV 532, Es-dur BWV 552, Fantasia and Fugue in g minor BWV 542, Fugue BWV 577. Passacaglia (with fugue, certainly ). My favorites among Bach's chorale preludes are large Kyrie-Christe-Kyrie settings from ClavierUbung III (if to name the whole Clavierubung III is too much), dubious "Aus der Tiefe rufe ich" BWV 745 and more. I like very much chorales from Neumeister's collection.

Jan-19-2007, 18:12	#6 (permalink)
Drinklicafix Midshipman, Forte Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 33	yes, very tough question!! anyway, here goes: Passacaglia & Fugue BWV 582 is my favourite but I also like BWVs 542 , 552 and 543 very much, especially the fugue of 543. Another piece I have a liking for is BWV 733, played slowly it's very grand, anyone else have any views on this piece? Of course, as tom said the Dorian toccata & fugue is very impressive. It looks like most people who have replied have fairly similar tastes! hehe

Jan-21-2007, 15:05	#7 (permalink)
Sybarite Commodore con Forza Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: London, England Posts: 553	No points for originality here, but Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565. This opens a CD of Simon Preston playing some of Bach's organ music that I have and that I often play on the way to work in the morning on my iPod. On a crowded bus, it's one of a number of pieces that seems to create a bubble of serenity that enables me to arrive at the office in a decent mental state.

Jan-23-2007, 05:55	#8 (permalink)
Thomas Dressler Captain of Water Music Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Pennsylvania, USA Posts: 373	I guess overall I vote for the Dorian Toccata and Fugue, especially the fugue--I think one of the best he wrote.

Feb-15-2007, 04:09	#9 (permalink)
Soubasse Captain of Water Music Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: It sure as hell ain't MY "lucky" country :( Posts: 463 Images: 1	Passacaglia and Fugue definitely No.1 'Great' Prelude and Fugue in a would be a close 2nd but the other 'Great' P&F in c min could be an equal 2nd. I was turned onto that one standing next to Daniel Roth while he played it at St. Suplice. How could you not??

Feb-15-2007, 05:02	#10 (permalink)
Jeffrey Hall Ensign, Principal Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Flagstaff, Arizona, USA Posts: 74	#1. Passacaglia and Fugue in c, BWV 582 -- I've just been making a MIDI sequence of it this past week. No question about its spot at #1, ever since I first heard it 25 years ago. #2. Prelude and Fugue in e, "Wedge", BWV 548. #3. Fantasia and Fugue in g, BWV 542. I played this in my last concert. Once the third countersubject enters in the fugue, you can just feel the audience on the edge of its seat! #4. Komm, Herr Gott, Heiliger Geist, BWV 651. Why? Because of the superhuman proportions Bach brought to the chorale...as Beethoven would do to the classical symphony. The six solid minutes of Pentecostal imagery, rising from the opening pedal point, makes this for me the greatest of his chorales. #5. Toccata and Fugue in d, "Dorian," BWV 538. This seems like a very underappreciated work. Thomas Dressler: I agree. It's truly a superb fugue. I'll stop at 5. Of course there are numerous honorable mentions!

Feb-23-2007, 16:15	#13 (permalink)
EJN Apprentice, Piano Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 7	Bach has composed many good works for organ, but my favourite in major is his majestetic E-flat prelude BWV 552 as I have performed many times and the following fugue. In minor I chose his e-minor prelude BWV 548 and the following fugue which is very diffucult to play.

Feb-26-2007, 00:38	#14 (permalink)
Contratrombone64 Vice Admiral Virtuoso Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 4,340 Images: 1	I love the trio sonatas.

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Mar-19-2007, 04:57	#15 (permalink)
Soubasse Captain of Water Music Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: It sure as hell ain't MY "lucky" country :( Posts: 463 Images: 1	Aye, they are well in a class of their own really being neither chorale based or prelude, toccata or fugue. They are also rather difficult and excellent discipline to learn.