Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Organ Works
Prelude and Fugues BWV 543; BWV 536
Partita "O Gott, du frommer Gott" BWV 767
Allabreve BWV 589
Prelude BWV 568
Pastorale BWV 590
Choralvorspiel und Choral BWV 604
Hans Helmut Tillmanns (organ)
Recorded: St Nicholas Church, Raeren, Belgium October 2001
DANACORD DACOCD 590 [67.04?]

Danacord

Hot off the press comes the latest of Tillmanns’ Bach recordings. This pupil of Helmut Walcha fuses solid address, high musical values and superior technique. He brings to these works – none described in the booklet by the way – a patrician reserve always at the service of the music. The programme begins with two Preludes and Fugues, continues with a Partita, the remarkable O Gott, du frommer Gott, and includes the twelve-minute Pastorale BWV 590.

Tillmanns' fugal voicings are adept and crisp, the registrations employed are perceptively chosen – listen, for example to the reedy Choralvorspiel – and where necessary he builds in amplitude to considerable effect. The Weimbs organ dates from 1994 and has been splendidly recorded by Danacord who are making something of a speciality of sympathetic organ acoustics. Questions of programming apart this is a disc that can be recommended – whether one would necessarily want a recital of this kind is another matter.

The booklet devotes a reasonable half page to the organ builders.

Jonathan Woolf

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