[rodgersorgan] Re: Toccata & Fugue in D Minor - Bach
- From: "Paul Marshall" <p.marsh@xxxxxxx>
- To: <rodgersorgan@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 30 Jan 2003 23:06:52 -0500
I agree that you have to have fun with it, but precisely because it is
so dreadfully immature compositionally as an organ work. If Bach wrote
it at all, is was for the violin, and somebody else arranged it for
organ (quoth Peter Williams and others). I think the "organ testing"
thesis, always the excuse for such lousy compositional technique, does
not enjoy much of a vogue these days.
I say this to support your praise of the flamboyant performances: there
is nothing in the piece that requires subtle interpretation, so let the
tool do the work via registration and dynamic changes, and have a little
fun.
When I think of all the people/colleagues I have seen/heard play this
thing so solemnly, so meaningfully, I start to cry with laughter. The
Toccata puts me in mind of Mozart's satire of Salieri in "Amadeus," and
the fugue is hardly deep, so the only thing left to do is have a ball.
If JSB wrote this for organ, it had to be as deliciously vulgar
self-satire (of which he was capable--see the Coffee Cantata), another
argument to pull out many of the stops and just go with it.
Or as Virgil Fox so famously said, "Beatrice Lilly rides again!" Hi, Ho,
Sebastian!
Now where did I put Noel's 32' Ophicleide disk for the PR-300S?
On a serious note, Berghaus just rebuilt the 4/81 at St. Stephen's in
Wilkes-Barre, with wonderful results. However, at the first recital,
you-know-what was played for the masses, the organist remarking rightly
that old BWV 565 is the world's most recognized piece of organ music.
Paul Marshall
-----Original Message-----
From: rodgersorgan-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:rodgersorgan-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Matt G.
Sent: Thursday, January 30, 2003 8:08 PM
To: rodgersorgan@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [rodgersorgan] Re: Toccata & Fugue in D Minor - Bach
This piece must be played with cleanliness and clarity, but not without
fire
and style and flash. My three favorite performances I've heard were by
Virgil Fox, Diane Bish and Simon Preston in a duo version on Joy of
Music,
and Marte and Bene Hammel live in a dueling organ concert. This is a
great
piece. You have to have fun with it! :-)
Matt G.
CaddyOrganist@xxxxxxxxxxx
>From: "Scott Evans, Gen Mgr" <esresource@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Reply-To: rodgersorgan@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>To: rodgersorgan@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: [rodgersorgan] Re: Toccata & Fugue in D Minor - Bach
>Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 00:42:13 -0800
>
>
>
>
>After all these years, I still enjoy playing this piece. My copy shows
>$.80 from 1966. Wow, I wish I could still get music at these prices!
>
>My particular practice recommendations:
>
>Watch the articulation of the manual notes when the pedals come in at
>the end of measures 16,17,19 & 20 of the Toccata. I don't know why, but
>perhaps the appearance of simplicity in these measures gives some
>organists the thought that strict attention need not be paid here. Just
>one of those touchy subjects to me, as I have heard many play this part
>poorly.
>
>Spend some quality time with measures 49 through 51 in the Fugue. I
>always found these particularly tough and disruptions here are sure to
>spoil the development of the Fugue, leading into an exciting part of
the
>piece with the introduction of the Fugue's theme in the pedal and the
>resolution of the phrase in measures 54 through 57. By the way, in the
>Schirmer edition, please ignore the recommended use of the swell pedal
>here. Use good registration to bring out the dynamics. (Yup, I'm a
>purist that way).
>
>Work out very early on in practice sessions how to handle the many
>sections of echo in the Fugue. There have been several efforts for
>different interpretations of where to break the phrase for the manuals
>back and forth. I prefer a traditional style here, but I suppose that
>arguments could be made for the others. The important point here is to
>pick your interpretation early and stick with it. Changing a pattern
>practiced over many years here is difficult!
>
>Watch tempo in 115-120. It is easy to rush here. Let the marvelous
>harmonic development that Bach wrote create the excitement and let it
>unfold in its own time.
>
>It never ceases to amaze me how Bach was able to work within the
>"confines" of the Baroque style, as some have put it, and then just go
>wherever he wished harmonically.
>
>Hope my $.02 helps and did not come across too pedantic. It is meant in
>good spirit.
>
>Happy practicing to all.
>
>Scott
>-------------------------------------------------------
>noel jones wrote:
>
>Having met a gentleman in his 60's today who has never learned the
>T&F....(everybody plays it so why bother learning it was his attitude
>for many years!) what would be your advice when it comes to learning
the
>piece?
>--
>noel jones, aago
>athens, tennessee, usa
>
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