Johann Sebastian Bach : Six Partitas, BWV 825-830 (Clavier-Übung Part I)

   in Choir & Organ (Nov, 2012)
The prolific and highly successful German organist and conductor Hansjorg Albrecht presents his own transcriptions of the six partitas that make up the first part of Bach’s Clavierubung. At a time when so many organists are deliberately blurring the lines between music written for organ and for other keyboard instruments, this has the makings of an interesting project. Unfortunately, Albrecht’s playing has only voluminous dexterity in its favour. I like roomy, realistic recordings of organs but this is recorded so distantly and in such cavernous acoustics that, when combined with Albrecht’s often TGV tempi, exaggerated articulations and particular choice of registrations, much of Bach’s counterpoint goes for nothing (especially when Albrecht …