Notes and Editorial Reviews
Not all by Bach, but nevertheless great music here given strong, if restrained performances.
This volume presents a pleasing and satisfying mixture of familiar and unfamiliar works. Some of the pieces may not be by Bach, but that doesn’t matter – it’s all wonderful music!
Bowyer’s straightforward approach to Bach makes for comfortable listening. At all times there’s subtle, unobtrusive articulation which doesn’t draw attention to itself. After hearing the two settings of Von Himmel hoch, or the fugues, one feels that his clear, unaffected playing is preferable to the self-conscious phrasing of other British organists. Also noticeable is the finely judged rubato.
However, some listeners may
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find Bowyer’s playing too impersonal and restrained. In the Toccata in F sharp minor, for example, one might long for the declamatory flair that a harpsichordist would bring to this dramatic music; or one might wish for a more liberal use of ornamentation. In the C minor Fantasia, BWV562, though, Bowyer shows what he can achieve: expressive ornamentation is plentiful, and the final semiquaver flourish is strongly delivered. One wishes he had been just as responsive to Bach’s imaginative harmonic colouring, but instead we get a rather matter-of-fact performance of the Kleines harmonisches Labyrinth. Also, it’s a pity that his penchant for rapid tempos seriously detracts from the impact of the Fantasia in G, BWV572, the Allabreve in D, BWV589, and the Prelude and Fugue in C, BWV550.
Nevertheless, there is much to enjoy here. The two trio sonatas are beautifully played with excellent pacing and shapely phrasing in pedal lines. The slow movements unfold calmly and naturally, and the outer movements have a lovely buoyant pulse. The D minor Sonata is the less successful of the two, due to some brisk and curt ornamentation in the Adagio and grotesque use of the en chamade Trompet in the last movement. However, I liked the use of notes inegales in the first movement, and I also liked the inventive chorale variations on the second disc. Bowyer evidently enjoyed the Aria variata on CD 1 too; there’s a sense of fun here, which also extends to his informative booklet-notes. As expected, Nimbus’s recording is first-class.
-- Christopher Nickol, Gramophone [11/2000]
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Works on This Recording
1.
Fantasie in G major, BWV 572 by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:
Kevin Bowyer (Organ)
Period: Baroque
Written: by 1706; Arnstadt, Germany
Venue: St. Hans Church, Odense, Denmark
3.
Fantasie in C major, BWV 570 by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:
Kevin Bowyer (Organ)
Period: Baroque
Written: by 1707; Arnstadt, Germany
Venue: St. Hans Church, Odense, Denmark
Notes: This selection shares a track and timing with BWV 946.
4.
Fugue in C major, BWV 946 by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:
Kevin Bowyer (Organ)
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1708; ?Weimar, Germany
Venue: St. Hans Church, Odense, Denmark
Notes: This selection shares a track and timing with BWV 570.
5.
Toccata in F sharp minor, BWV 910 by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:
Kevin Bowyer (Organ)
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1710 ; Weimar, Germany
Venue: St. Hans Church, Odense, Denmark
9.
Fugue in G minor, BWV 131a by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:
Kevin Bowyer (Organ)
Period: Baroque
Venue: St. Hans Church, Odense, Denmark
11.
Fantasie in G major, BWV 571 by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:
Kevin Bowyer (Organ)
Period: Baroque
Venue: St. Hans Church, Odense, Denmark
14.
Wir Christenleut, BWV 1090 by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:
Kevin Bowyer (Organ)
Period: Baroque
Venue: St. Hans Church, Odense, Denmark
16.
Capriccio in E major, BWV 993 by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:
Kevin Bowyer (Organ)
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1704
Venue: St. Hans Church, Odense, Denmark
21.
Prelude and Fugue in C major, BWV 545 by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:
Kevin Bowyer (Organ)
Period: Baroque
Written: 1708-1717; Weimar, Germany
Venue: St. Hans Church, Odense, Denmark
Sound Samples
Fantasia (Pièce d'orgue) in G, BWV.572
Trio Sonata No.4 in E minor, BWV.528: Adagio-Vivace
Trio Sonata No.4 in E minor, BWV.528: Andante
Trio Sonata No.4 in E minor, BWV.528: Un poc' allegro
Fantasia and fugue in C, BWV.570/946
Toccata in F sharp minor, BWV.910
Aria variata in A minor, BWV.989
Fuga chromatisch bearbeitet, BWV Anhang 44
Kleines harmonisches Labyrinth, BWV.591
Fugue in G minor, BWV.131a
Fantasia (Concerto) in G, BWV.571: Concerto in G
Prelude and fugue in G, BWV.550
Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her, BWV.701
Fughetta: Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her, BWV.701
Wir Christenleut, BWV.1090
Wir Christenleut habn jetzund Freud, BWV.710
Fantasia and fugue (fragment) in C minor, BWV.562
Partita on Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr, BWV.771
Trio Sonata No.3 in D minor, BWV.527: I. Andante
Trio Sonata No.3 in D minor, BWV.527: II. Adagio e dolce
Trio Sonata No.3 in D minor, BWV.527: III. Vivace
Prelude and fugue in C, BWV.545
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