Bach: The Four Great Toccatas and Fugues Main Performer or Conductor: E. Power Biggs Instrumentation: Organ Individual Works: BWV 565: Toccata and Fugue in D Minor BWV 540: Toccata and Fugue in F Major BWV 538: Toccata and Fugue in D Minor "Dorian" BWV 564: Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C Major Chorale Prelude BWV 680 Chorale Prelude BWV 753 Fantasy BWV 572 Format: Compact Disc Record Label: SONY/Columbia Catalog Number: MK 42643 Year Released/Recorded: 1974 Total Playing Time: 69.47 Comments: Joel Mercer said: The four great cathedral organs at the Munster of Freiburg in South Germany were played simultaneously. Since it was recorded Quadraphonically, listeners with four speakers can actually hear each of the four organs in the individual speakers Robert Hubbard said: This is a stunning recording of the antiphonal organs in Freiburg but not the best of E. Power Biggs. Biggs here is showing a deterioration of his skills even though his spirited playing remains. Look instead for recordings before the '70s to hear his best. The chorale preludes and fantasia were recorded on the Flentrop organ at Harvard which is an excellent organ for Bach. Perhaps Sony will re-release the other early Bach recordings he did for Columbia in the '50s and '60s on the Flentrop and organs around the world. Watch especially for "Art of the Organ" which is a phenomenal discussion (with examples) of organ building and styles. Acknowledgements: Thank you to the following for submitting this recording and for your comments: Joel Mercer Robert Hubbard Date First Submitted: 10/09/1996 Purchasing: Suggested Purchasing Sources Note: Inclusion in this database does not guarantee the availability of any recording. Some recordings may be out-of-print or no longer available.