Bach: Fantasias, Preludes & Fugues – James Johnstone

   in Early Music Today (Dec, 2017)
This forms the second instalment of James Johnstone’s documentation of the complete organ works and its content alone creates an exciting programme. His choice of the colourful 34-stop three-manual Raphaëlis organ at Roskilde (reconstructed and restored by Marcussen in 1991) brings vibrancy. With a programme including the Pièce d’Orgue and Prelude, Largo and Fugue in C (BWV 545) plus the ‘Dorian’ Toccata and Fugue (BWV 538), Johnstone’s varied registrations, including limpid flues where too much upper work could tire the ear, brings the disc together. Johnstone’s registrations are available on his website. Energetic and finely-judged articulation make for a captivating recording. …