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CD Review for Issue 353 (August 2010) of The Organ

 

J. S. Bach: Organ works Volume V

Margaret Phillips, Organist. Hinsz (1743) organ of St. Nicolaus (Bovenkerk), Kampen and Schnitger (1696), Hinsz (1768) and Freytag (1809) organ of Hervormde Kerk, Noordbroek.
Regent REGCD 301 (2xCDs)

This attractive double CD set comprises two recital programs, each framed with a major toccata/prelude and fugue and each including one of the chorale partitas and a trio sonata, alongside several chorale preludes and shorter works, plus the Concerto in G major after Ernst. With timings of 79’ and 76’, the listener is afforded an opportunity to hear a significant amount of repertoire in complimentary genres and the programmes here are well-balanced.

In recent times, Bach’s organ music has undergone an unfortunate measure of assault through an unerring number of live performances that have been rather shallow examples of showmanship at the expense of the score. As such, this new recording on Regent was received with a welcome smile of sheer delight!

Margaret Phillips offers us playing that remains thoughtful, elegant, informed and above all sensitive to the score. There are no quirks here, but rather intelligent decisions with regard to tempi, registrations, ornamentation and overall musicianship and style. The ease with which the second and fifth trio sonatas are delivered is a fine example; one has the genuine sense of chamber music here rather than a mere technique feat. Similarly, the outer movements of the Concerto in G major (after Ernst) and the Toccata, Adagio and Fugue are imbued with a happy buoyancy that certainly lifts the music right off the page.

Although it presents something of a challenge to find contrasting registrations for so many shorter chorales and variation movements, the ear is never tired of the sounds of these two instruments. The change of instrument from one disc to another certainly assists in this regard, without being marked.

The booklet will remind many of the Piet Kee recordings on Chandos as the programme notes are brief, but informative and with details of all registrations included. Photos of the instruments and a brief history of each organ are also included. This recording deserves to join the distinguished line of previous complete Bach collections.

Iain Quinn