Bach Passacaglia and Fugue

[murathan]

Everybody knows Bach Toccata and Fugue but there is a second hit not much people knows:

 

[Vladimir M.]

Since we are on the accordion forum, my small question: Do you mean this? :

 

[debra]

We also played this with the Dutch Symphonic Accordion Orchestra, with and without also an organ part.
Here is a recording of the version with accordions and organ:

 

[murathan]

It is believed this era composers had pedal harpsichords in their homes to work on these music.

 

[murathan]

Since we are on the accordion forum, my small question: Do you mean this? :

The Pub area is about non accordion related posts. I like sharing my favorite subjects

 

[murathan]

 

[saundersbp]

Ah, this is one I play myself on the organ, you never get bored of it!

Btw I like this slower version played by a great conductor with more colour in the sounds on a historic organ.

 

[Walker]

Thanks for sharing such an exemplary video Ben!

That organ's tone is verging on celestial. Truly the King of instruments.

 

[murathan]

Ah, this is one I play myself on the organ, you never get bored of it!

Btw I like this slower version played by a great conductor with more colour in the sounds on a historic organ.

I know that video, what dont like is it sounds in D minor although seems at C minor. Whether organ is used Transposed or a record error / modification.

 

[Vladimir M.]

A little note on my above post nr. 2. Although the boy plays a high-quality accordion, the freebass on this instrument has the deepest tone of contra-E (i.e. E1) only. And that's a problem, because in such a case (and such a deep register) the lower following note C is in the score:



He tries to cover this weak side of his instrument by playing the lowest octave in parallel even in the right hand on the discant... but his imitation of the organ bass was not quite successful: More "mass" of sound, but less depth of tone...

HOWEVER!

The famous Grayson Masefield (from New Zealand) has an instrument where the freebass goes all the way to contra-C (i.e. C1).
In the video below, at 0:29, notice - that tone is heard. Masefield does not need to "mask" the absence of the deepest bass tone by adding treble (discant) notes. He can afford to play according to the original: only on freebass:



I always enjoy pushing the boundaries for unique and better musical results.

Best regards, Vladimir

 

[saundersbp]

Whether organ is used Transposed or a record error / modification.

Its not transposed or misrecorded, remember pitch standardisation is a newer thing and this is a historic organ!

 

[Walker]

Its not transposed or misrecorded, remember pitch standardisation is a newer thing and this is a historic organ!

...absolutely, and Maestro Richter clearly taps that low C1 pedal note with his shiny organ-player's shoes at 29 seconds.

Yet the most eye-opening thing I have learned from this historic-organ recording is not the traditional pitch of old organs, it is the magnificent sweetness, colour and sparkle of their tone. Never has the accordion seemed as ill-equipped to tackle such music (even with a low C1 bass) than when I heard Richter playing it on the right instrument. The difference between organ and accordion is like night and day.​

 

[murathan]

 

[Ffingers]

"The difference between organ and accordion is like night and day." wrote Walker.

So very true - I would find it difficult to get a full size pipe organ onto the back seat of my small car

 

[saundersbp]

Yet the most eye-opening thing I have learned from this historic-organ recording is not the traditional pitch of old organs, it is the magnificent sweetness, colour and sparkle of their tone. Never has the accordion seemed as ill-equipped to tackle such music (even with a low C1 bass) than when I heard Richter playing it on the right instrument. The difference between organ and accordion is like night and day.

Personally I'm not enamored with the technical stunts virtuoso accordionists attempt playing three stave organ music. It misses so much of the wonderful two stave Bach that suits the instrument so much better.

As for sound colour, my view, possibly controversial is the basic sound of the accordion isn't as lovely as the piano or organ, but it can be made musical only by the extra unique dimension of the bellows where you can shape every single note in a way you can't easily do on the organ.

 

[Walker]

"The difference between organ and accordion is like night and day." wrote Walker.

So very true - I would find it difficult to get a full size pipe organ onto the back seat of my small car

...oh you should get a Skoda Octavia.