| Description: | . I have'nt uploaded for ages, having been busy, learning pieces and having lessons, but I now present the first of what I hope will be a series of recordings, J S Bach's starry Alle Menschen mussen sterben BWV 1117 from the Neumeister Chorales, works thought to be composed during his early years as organist at Arnstadt.
The piece begins with a subdued first section, in which the cantus firmus is heard in the alto line, the accompaniment moving in sixteenth notes, rising in an urgent pattern till it brakes forth into the virtuosic second section where the chorale sings in the lower parts and then the soprano.
The whole piece is very powerful and urgent and the second part represents the text, about eternity beautifully.
The choice of organ, is I know not what Baroque purists would like best, but I think it is interesting to offer a performance in the way that we British play Bach on our symphonic organs. And the good thing about the Salisbury Cathedral organ, is that it is'nt as reed based as some romantic organs, so it's glorious plenum handles a Bach piece very nicely I think. Of course on another organ such as Hereford Cathedral, which has a more rounded tone, one would use a different registration method. One has to think, 'What would Bach have done. when playing this organ?'
I have been working very hard on my technique, and have made many discoveries as to what I have been doing wrong or could have done better, over the last year so I would be very interested to know if you think I have improved since my early uploads.
I hope you enjoy the piece,
Thank you very much for listening,
Best wishes
Alex |
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