This is Volume 7 in
Alard’s monumental and courageous project to record together both all of Bach’s
organ works and keyboard works. Previous reviews of this series have been of
Volumes 1 and 2 (Scott Noriega, 42:1 and 43:1), Volumes 3 and 4 (Bertil van
Boer, 44:2 and 45:1), and Volume 6 (James Harrington, 46:1). Volume 5 was not
received for review. In addition, there are reviews of recordings by Alard on
the Alpha label of the Harpsichord Partitas, BWV 825–830 (Jerry Dubins, 34:1),
and of the Organ Trio Sonatas, BWV 525–530 (James A. Altena, 45:4). All of these
reviews have been highly positive (though I expressed slight reservations in
mine).
This set
of Bach’s Orgelbüchlein
is not only first-rate in every way in terms of Alard’s idiomatic and thoughtful
playing, the excellent recorded sound, the elaborate 64-page booklet, and deluxe
packaging. It is an absolutely essential acquisition for collectors of Bach’s
music for a unique feature it brings to the table: Every one of these chorales
is followed by the Childrens’ Choir of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris singing a
verse of the chorale or hymn tune on which Bach based that particular piece.
This is one of those simple, seemingly evident ideas that somehow apparently has
never occurred to anyone to do before, and now that it is done—and done
exquisitely well; the choir sings superbly, and its German pronunciation and
diction are excellent—the necessity for it is obvious. The texts for all the
hymns are provided in German (plus Latin for “In dulci jubilo”) with French and
English translations. While Bach organ aficionados will of course continue to
want and need organ-only versions, this set is now absolutely indispensable.
Emphatically, insistently recommended.
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