Organ Works, Vol. 3 Main Performer or Conductor: Ton Koopman Instrumentation: Organ Individual Works: "Dorian" Toccata & Fugue, BWV 538 Partita "Sei gegruesset, Jesu guetig", BWV 768 Fantasia in G, BWV 572 Trio Sonata No. 6 in G, BWV 530 "Vater unser um Himmelreich", BWV 682 "Jesu Christus, unser Heiland", BWV 688 Prelude & Fugue in a, BWV 543 Format: Compact Disc Record Label: Novalis Catalog Number: 150036-2 (full price) Year Released/Recorded: 1988 Total Playing Time: 70'07" Related Web Site: http://www.tonkoopman.nl Comments: This recording portrays Ton Koopman in fine form at the keyboards of the unique and graceful organ that can be considered the slightly older sibling of the famous Haarlem organ. Judging by this and more recent issues, the Leeuwarden organ has gradually grown in popularity as a recording subject, and rightly so. It has many characteristic stops of straightforward beauty, and a sturdy, full "plenum" that doesn't tire, even during prolonged listening. By now, it may be considered common knowledge that Koopman's interpretations are decidedly personal ones, often characterized by such things as additional ornamentations and sometimes by slightly unusual tempi. While this may not be to everyone's liking, it is impossible to call his renditions dull or uninspired. On the whole, I enjoyed this program. The opening and closing works are given energetic, bold, and self-assured renditions; the Partita serves reasonably well as a vehicle for exhibiting some of the organ's different tone colours; the Fantasia's opening movement is characterized by manual changes that don't sound altogether natural to my ears, the dense middle movement is played with enough momentum and uplifting articulation to avoid sounding as grave and overwhelming as is sometimes heard, but the concluding movement strikes me as a bit laconic; the Trio Sonata is done wonderfully as far as I'm concerned, with sparkling, bubbly outer movements and a leisurely inner one; the two chorale arrangements from the "Clavieruebung III" are given involved interpretations, not in the least aided by registrations that clearly articulate the works' different lines. (DDD) Acknowledgements: Thank you to the following for submitting this recording and for your comments: Willem Van Galen Date First Submitted: 02/14/1997 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.

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