RECORDING OF THE MONTH RECORDING OF THE MONTH BARGAIN OF THE MONTH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS A London Symphony Oboe Concerto £11 post free World-wide RACHMANINOV Elegy, Preludes, Piano concerto 3 £12 post free World-wide CHAUSSON, DEBUSSY RACHMANINOV TRios 2CDs £16 post free World-wide

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Praeludium und Fuge a-moll BWV 551 [5'42] Praeludium und Fuge G-dur BWV 550 [7'42] Choralbearbeitungen In dir ist Freude BWV 615 [3'00] In dulci Jubilo BWV 729 [2'07] Nun freut euch, lieben Christen g'mein BWV 734 [2'38] Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her BWV 738 [2'57] Vater unser in Himmelreich BWV 737 [2'57] Fantasia con Imitatione BWV 563 [3'47] Fuge c-moll BWV 575 [5'00] Kyrie drei Sãtze BWV 672-674 [3'54] Choralbearbeitung Erbarm dich mein, o Herre Gott BWV 721 [4'09] Ach Gott und Herr BWV 714 [1'03] Christus, der uns selig macht BWV 620 [2'08] Wir glauben all an einen Gott BWV 680 [3'33] Allein Gott in der Hoh sei Ehr BWV 715 [1'57] Praeludium a-moll BWV 569 [4'40] Hans Helmut Tillmanns, organs Rec: Hasselt Cathedral, Belgium, St Laurentius, Merzenich, Germany, Unknown location, March, 2004. DDD DANACORD DACOCD 618 [60'31]

This is a very strange release indeed. We are told little about Mr Tillmanns except that "in his interpretations he follows his great example and teacher Helmut Walcha." Well indeed he does. It is astonishing that in 2004 a Walcha disciple should choose to record Bach, indeed his complete organ works in addition to this disc, in the manner of Walcha, especially as Walcha's hugely important and pioneering Bach recordings are again available, digitally re-mastered. Tillmanns' playing is a throw-back to the 1950s and 1960s; his articulation is basically legato, his registrations rather neo-baroque, (lots of 8' and 2', even in 'plenum' pieces, manual changes etc abound), his accents very equal, and his rallentandi, stellar. The result is, to today's ears, stodgy and un-interesting. Of the organs, well, they represent a curious choice. The late Flemish Classical Houdtappel organ, 1791-3, is a fine instrument of its type, but not an obvious Bach organ. The Merzenich instrument, built by the Belgian builder Schumacher in 1997, attempts to expand the local Maas/Rhine style of the 18th century. It sounds well enough on the basis of the few pieces performed here. The third organ, built by the same company in 1983 is a house organ in an unspecified location. It has a curious specification, (the only 16' in the pedal is a fractional length reed for instance), and a not terribly distinguished sound. If indeed it was recorded in a house, I suspect some slight electronic acoustical enhancement has taken place. The booklet is passable, though there is at least one BWV error, this 'In dulci Jubilo' is not 729. The recording is reasonable with some occasional amateurish editing. Not at all recommendable. Chris Bragg Advertising Rates Visitor stats MusicWeb International has over 40,000 Classical CD reviews on offer Discs received Having a problem Donating? Gerard Hoffnung Concerts & The Bricklayer Story MusicWeb can now offer you discs from the following catalogues: Prices include postage There will be NO VAT Rises [Acte Préalable £13.50] [Arcodiva £12.00] [Avie from £6.25] [British Music Society £12.00] [CDACCORD from £13.50 ] [ClassicO £12.50] [Hallé from £11] [Heritage £10] [Hortus £14.99 ] [Lyrita ONLY £11.75 ] [Nimbus Special prices] [Northern Flowers £13.50] [REDCLIFFE £11 ] [Sheva £11] [Tactus £11.50 ] [Talent from £12.00 ] [Toccata Classics £10.50 ] Musicweb Special Offers Monthly Best Buys   New Releases New Releases   MusicWeb sells the Polish catalogue CDAccord £10.50 post free W-W MusicWeb sells the Arcodiva catalogue £12.00 post free W-W £11.75 post-free world- wide     Google Ads - for information about privacy matters, click here.  Amazon Musicweb International is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com

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