J.S. Bach: Complete Organ Music, Vol. 1, Composer Johann Sebastian Bach, Artist Stefano Molardi organ, Format 4 CD, Stefano Molardi is shaping his recorded survey of Bach's complete organ music as self-sufficient and musically satisfying recitals which, disc by disc, explore the diverse styles at the composer's disposal, the flexible usage to which he, the ultimate 'compleat musician', puts 'his' instrument through it's paces, and the different liturgical demands which he was required to meet during the course of his career as he moved from church to court and back again. Grand Weimar- and Leipzig-composed preludes and fugues rub shoulders with intricate trio sonatas which he had initially conceived as chamber music, and between them nestle intimate chorales from his Cöthen days. Accordingly, Molardi makes full use of the potential flexibility of his chosen Trost organ in the Stadtkirche 'Zur Gotteshilfe' in Waltershausen, deep in the provincial heart of Thuringia. This is Bach country, and although the organ has been periodically restored since it was finally inaugurated in 1755, almost 30 years after the work was begun, it retains the classic characteristics of it's age and situation: a thorough restoration in 1998 returned the instrument to it's original glory. Born in Cremona, Molardi has undertaken a Renaissance career as not only organist but harpsichordist, conductor and scholar, not only at home in the rarified confines of early music but a virtuoso who has performed the complete organ works of Liszt and Franck and made an extraordinary recording of Verdi arranged for organ. These Bach discs are, perhaps appropriately, less overtly spectacular but no less imaginative in their rhythmic and coloristic response. A new recording (2013) of Bach's complete organ works is, even in these overfed and crisis-stricken days, an event of the first order. First of all because the music is of such overwhelming beauty and power, one of the greatest creations of humanity, and secondly because there is still so much to discover and illuminate in these works. These recordings are based on the choice of instruments: organist Stefano Molardi chose German instruments from Bach's time, lending an authentic character to the project. This first set features the wonderful Trost Organ of the Stadtkirche Zur Gotteshilfe in Waltershausen, Thuringia, built in 1725 and gloriously restored in 1998. Stefano Molardi is a "renaissance man", organist, harpsichordist, scholar, historian and writer. He recorded extensively for Divox, DGG and other labels. His playing is clear, crisp, free and rhythmically vibrant. The CD's are programmed like concerto programs, a fine diversity of genres and styles, to avoid monotony and uniformity.
16 Fantasia on, 'Valet Will Ich Dir Geben', BWV735
17 Vivace
18 Largo
19 Allegro
20 Prelude
21 Fugue
- Disc 2 -
1 Prelude
2 Fugue
3 Helft Mir Gottes Güte Preisen, BWV613
4 Das Alte Jahr Vergangen Ist, BWV614
5 In Dir Ist Freude, BWV615
6 Mit Fried' Und Freud' Ich Fahr Dahin, BWV616
7 Herr Gott, Nun Schleuß Den Himmel Auf, BWV617
8 Ein Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott, BWV720
9 Andante
10 Adagio E Dolce
11 Vivace
12 Erbarm Dich Mein, O Herre Gott, BWV721
13 I
14 Grave
15 Fuga
16 Largo
17 (Allegro)
18 Adagio
19 Vivace
20 Andante
21 Un Poc'allegro
22 Prelude
23 Fugue
- Disc 3 -
1 Prelude
2 Fugue
3 Allegro
4 Largo
5 Allegro
6 Prelude
7 Fugue
8 Wachet Auf, Ruft Uns Die Stimme, BWV645
9 Wo Soll Ich Fliehen Hin - Auf Meinen Lieben Gott, BWV646
10 Wer Nur Den Lieben Gott LÄßT Walten, BWV647
11 I
12 Recitativo: Adagio
13 Allegro
14 Chorale
15 Variation I
16 Variation II
17 Variation III
18 Variation IV
19 Variation V
20 Variation VI
21 Variation VII À 2 Clav. E Ped
22 Variation VIII
23 Variation IX À 2 Clav. E Ped
24 Variation X À 2 Clav. E Ped
25 Variation XI À 5 Voci in Organo Pleno
- Disc 4 -
1 Toccata
2 Fugue
3 Meine Seele Erhebt Den Herren, BWV648
4 Ach Bleibt Bei Uns, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV649
5 Kommst Du Nun, Jesu, Vom Himmel Herunter, BWV650
6 Fugue on a Theme By Corelli, BWV579
7 O Lamm Gottes, Unschuldig, BWV618
8 Christe, Du Lamm Gottes, BWV619
9 Christus, Der Uns Selig Macht, BWV620
10 Da Jesu An Dem Kreuze Stund', BWV621
11 O Mensch, Bewein' Dein Sünde Groß, BWV622
12 Wir Danken Dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV623
13 Hilf, Gott, Daß Mir's Gelinge, BWV624
14 Christ Lag in Todesbanden, BWV625
15 Jesus Christus, Unser Heiland, Der Den Tod Überwand, BWV626
16 Christ Ist Erstanden, BWV627 - Verses 1, 2 & 3
17 Erstanden Ist Der Heil'ge Christ, BWV628
18 Erschienen Ist Der Herrliche Tag, BWV629
19 Heut' Triumphieret Gottes Sohn, BWV630
20 Komm, Gott Schöpfer, Heiliger Geist, BWV631
21 Vivace
22 Lento
23 Allegro
J.S. Bach: Complete Organ Music, Vol. 1, Composer Johann Sebastian Bach, Artist Stefano Molardi organ, Format 4 CD, Stefano Molardi is shaping his recorded survey of Bach's complete organ music as self-sufficient and musically satisfying recitals which, disc by disc, explore the diverse styles at the composer's disposal, the flexible usage to which he, the ultimate 'compleat musician', puts 'his' instrument through it's paces, and the different liturgical demands which he was required to meet during the course of his career as he moved from church to court and back again. Grand Weimar- and Leipzig-composed preludes and fugues rub shoulders with intricate trio sonatas which he had initially conceived as chamber music, and between them nestle intimate chorales from his Cöthen days. Accordingly, Molardi makes full use of the potential flexibility of his chosen Trost organ in the Stadtkirche 'Zur Gotteshilfe' in Waltershausen, deep in the provincial heart of Thuringia. This is Bach country, and although the organ has been periodically restored since it was finally inaugurated in 1755, almost 30 years after the work was begun, it retains the classic characteristics of it's age and situation: a thorough restoration in 1998 returned the instrument to it's original glory. Born in Cremona, Molardi has undertaken a Renaissance career as not only organist but harpsichordist, conductor and scholar, not only at home in the rarified confines of early music but a virtuoso who has performed the complete organ works of Liszt and Franck and made an extraordinary recording of Verdi arranged for organ. These Bach discs are, perhaps appropriately, less overtly spectacular but no less imaginative in their rhythmic and coloristic response. A new recording (2013) of Bach's complete organ works is, even in these overfed and crisis-stricken days, an event of the first order. First of all because the music is of such overwhelming beauty and power, one of the greatest creations of humanity, and secondly because there is still so much to discover and illuminate in these works. These recordings are based on the choice of instruments: organist Stefano Molardi chose German instruments from Bach's time, lending an authentic character to the project. This first set features the wonderful Trost Organ of the Stadtkirche Zur Gotteshilfe in Waltershausen, Thuringia, built in 1725 and gloriously restored in 1998. Stefano Molardi is a "renaissance man", organist, harpsichordist, scholar, historian and writer. He recorded extensively for Divox, DGG and other labels. His playing is clear, crisp, free and rhythmically vibrant. The CD's are programmed like concerto programs, a fine diversity of genres and styles, to avoid monotony and uniformity.