Hyperion Records | Bach J S: Organ Cornucopia

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CDA67139

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Recording details: April 1999
Pfarrkirche St Michael, Kaisten, Switzerland
Produced by Paul Spicer
Engineered by Paul Niederberger
Release date: July 1999
Total duration: 73 minutes 31 seconds

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'This boldly presented recital … holds the listener from beginning to end' (The Penguin Guide to Compact Discs)

'Herrick's technical mastery is stunningly apparent' (Contemporary Review)

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Organ Cornucopia

Christopher Herrick (organ)

1		Herr Christ, der einig Gottes Sohn, BWV-Anhang 55 [1'53]
2		Fantasia in C major, BWV573 [0'47]
		Fantasia and Fugue in C minor, BWV562
3		Movement 2: Fugue [1'19]
4		Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, BWV764 [1'09]
5		Jesu, meine Freude, BWV753 [1'45]
6		Pedal-Exercitium, BWV598 [1'39]
7		Vater unser im Himmelreich, BWV762 [2'45]
		Concerto in G major 'Fantasia', BWV571
8		Movement 1: Allegro [3'37]
9		Movement 2: Adagio [1'51]
10		Movement 3: Chaconne [2'14]
11		Ach Gott vom Himmel sieh darein, BWV741 [4'54]
12		Ach, was ist doch unser Leben, BWV743 [3'22]
13		Fugue in D major, BWV580 [3'18]
14		Christus, der uns selig macht, BWV747 [3'45]
15		Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier, BWV754 [3'21]
16		Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ, BWV723 [1'47]
17		Prelude in C major, BWV567 [1'24]
18		Fugue in C major, BWV946 [3'06]
		O Vater, allmächtiger Gott, BWV758
19		Verse 1: [untitled] [1'08]
20		Verse 2: [untitled] [0'45]
21		Verse 3: [untitled] [0'50]
22		Verse 4: [untitled] [0'53]
23		Kleines harmonisches Labyrinth, BWV591 [5'06]
		Concerto in E flat major, BWV597
24		Movement 1: Allegro [3'36]
25		Movement 2: Gigue [2'46]
26		Nun freut euch, lieben Christen gemein, BWV755 [2'12]
27		Wir glauben all an einen Gott, BWV765 [2'38]
28		Trio in G minor, BWV584 [2'48]
		Prelude and Fugue in C major, BWV531
29		Movement 1: Prelude [2'29]
30		Movement 2: Fugue [4'24]

Continuing the complete survey of the organ music of J S Bach, this 'horn of plenty' contains a host of shorter pieces, some of which are incomplete and some whose attribution to Bach is in question. However, questions of authorship have been laid aside for the moment and we ask you simply to enjoy a succession of little gems which provide pleasure for listener and performer alike.

When the autographs of so many of Bach's completed organ works have disappeared it is worthy of some comment that, with the exception of the Pedal-Exercitium, BWV598, all of the fragmentary works on this disc have survived in the composer's hand. As they are all of superb quality it is interesting to speculate on what deterred Bach from continuing them. Whereas the Fantasia in C, BWV573, reaches a definite cadence, the Fugue in C minor, BWV562, and the two chorales break off in mid-sentence. Perhaps they were composition exercises for continuation by one of his pupils. Although various Bach stylists have produced completions of the fragments, Christopher Herrick prefers to present them 'torso-like', leaving them dangling tantalisingly in the air.