• 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

Daniel Chorzempa

Mick Berg

New member
I have just heard (on Spotify) some recordings of Bach organ pieces by Daniel Chorzempa. The reviews of these pieces are mostly favorable and in some cases very enthusiastic. However I find the recordings to be very disappointing. (Dare I say awful?) Dirge-like tempos, every note detached (even in triplets,) and given the same value, no phrasing at all, very difficult to hear the subject line, basically one registration, even some audible mistakes, in fact everything that I consider bad in the playing of Bach.

I'd like to hear what others here think of Mr. Chorzempa's work.

BTW I am no expert, and not a good organist. My ideal interpretations of Bach organ are those by Lionel Rogg.


Thanks,
Mick
 
Last edited:
FinnViking

FinnViking

Member
I heard him play a Bach-only recital in Finland in 1990. Computer-like playing: no mistakes but no life either. Half of the audience left during the interval. When going out I heard one lady angrily say to her husband "I won't listen to this any more!".
 

Mick Berg

New member
Don't seem to be getting more opinions so I'll add that I have listened to more of his work and it's not so bad but nothing special. He uses a very detached style that I happen to dislike. And the Dorian Fugue which is probably my favourite Bach piece just happens to be particularly bad.
Mick
 

Keith71

New member
Is very strange to read these comments about Mr. Chorzempa that is considered for many people one of the best renowned organists. He is celebrated also for the historical recordings with important labels like Philips or EMI.
Strange to read so bad comments...
 
FinnViking

FinnViking

Member
When listening to his playing, I can only wonder why he is so renowned. What I have heard was totally lifeless. That's how I feel, and I apoligize for having a wrong opinion.
 
wljmrbill

wljmrbill

Member
he reminds me of my college organ professor I had in the 1960's...... you had to re write your Bach as detached playing with breaks between all notes in even form and not a lot of phrasing as we do now. He said that in old days with reverb and tracker action it couldn't have possible been played as many organist perform at (1960's) time... .now he would really be out spoken.. a thought.
 

Mick Berg

New member
Lionel Rogg's recordings were done on a Silbermann organ in a very reverberant space. No problem with clarity or phrasing even with a legato style. So that's no excuse!
Mick
 

Mick Berg

New member
Finn Viking, please don't apologize for your opinions! And your opinion is not wrong. No one has said they like Mr. Chorzempa's playing.
Mick
 
Krummhorn

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
Mick Berg said:
Lionel Rogg's recordings were done on a Silbermann organ in a very reverberant space. No problem with clarity or phrasing even with a legato style. So that's no excuse!
Mick
Click to expand...

I think it has to do with mic placement for recordings too ... in the live acoustic settings don't they place the recording mics closer to the organ cases?
 
Krummhorn

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
Well his playing is quite technically correct ... not a bad tempo but a little too much detachment for my tastes. He does employ good registration changes and does express a little rubato at some places indicating he does have some "feel" for the music.

I found a few of his playing recordings on Youtube.

The late E. Power Biggs was also somewhat robotic in his playing style, but had lots more feeling in his interpretations.
 

Mick Berg

New member
Krummhorn said:
I think it has to do with mic placement for recordings too ... in the live acoustic settings don't they place the recording mics closer to the organ cases?
Click to expand...

That's a fault of the Rogg recordings IMHO, the mics seem to be moved around a lot so the acoustic keeps changing. But the loud pieces are still clear.
 

Mick Berg

New member
Krummhorn said:
Well his playing is quite technically correct ... not a bad tempo but a little too much detachment for my tastes. He does employ good registration changes and does express a little rubato at some places indicating he does have some "feel" for the music.

I found a few of his playing recordings on Youtube.

The late E. Power Biggs was also somewhat robotic in his playing style, but had lots more feeling in his interpretations.
Click to expand...

Can't agree with you from what I've heard. Every piece has the same registration and it never changes. And the tempo of the Dorian Fugue is absurdly slow. But I think I should stop bashing him now, (not that he would care!)
Mick
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top