| This seventh instalment of Masaaki Suzuki’s critically acclaimed series of the complete organ works by Johann Sebastian Bach includes eleven pieces from a manuscript known as the Leipzig Chorales. Conceived around 1739, this collection contains no new compositions, but rather ‘reworkings’ of organ chorales dating from the years 1708–17, when Bach was in Weimar. The chorale arrangements are based on established Lutheran melodies that particularly appealed to Bach.
This recording also includes the six Schübler Chorales (named after the collection’s publisher), which take chorales he had already included in his religious cantatas and adapt them for the organ. Together with the Orgel-Büchlein and the third book of the Clavier-Übung, the Leipzig Chorales and the Schübler Chorales represent the pinnacle of Bach’s sacred organ music.
On this recording, Masaaki Suzuki plays the Arp Schnitger organ of the Martinikerk in Groningen, the Netherlands, one of the largest and most famous baroque organs in Northern Europe.
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 – 1750): 18 Chorales “Leipziger Choräle”:
1 Bach: 18 Chorales “Leipziger Choräle”: No. 12, Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr, BWV 66208:09
2 Bach: 18 Chorales “Leipziger Choräle”: No. 13, Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr, BWV 66307:27
3 Bach: 18 Chorales “Leipziger Choräle”: No. 14, Trio super Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr, BWV 66405:06
4 Bach: 18 Chorales “Leipziger Choräle”: No. 15, Jesus Christus, unser Heiland, BWV 66504:43
5 Bach: 18 Chorales “Leipziger Choräle”: No. 16, Jesus Christus, unser Heiland, BWV 66603:06
6 Bach: 18 Chorales “Leipziger Choräle”: No. 17, Komm, Gott, Schöpfer, Heiliger Geist, BWV 66703:12
7 Bach: 18 Chorales “Leipziger Choräle”: No. 18a, Wenn wir in höchsten Nöten sein, BWV 668a05:22
6 Choräle von verschiedener Art, “Schübler-Choräle”:
8 Bach: 6 Choräle von verschiedener Art, “Schübler-Choräle”: No. 1, Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 64504:02
9 Bach: 6 Choräle von verschiedener Art, “Schübler-Choräle”: No. 2, Wo soll ich fliehen hin. Auf meinen lieben Gott, BWV 64601:32
10 Bach: 6 Choräle von verschiedener Art, “Schübler-Choräle”: No. 3, Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten, BWV 64703:30
11 Bach: 6 Choräle von verschiedener Art, “Schübler-Choräle”: No. 4, Meine Seele erhebt den Herren, BWV 64801:50
12 Bach: 6 Choräle von verschiedener Art, “Schübler-Choräle”: No. 5, Ach bleib bei uns, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 64902:27
13 Bach: 6 Choräle von verschiedener Art, “Schübler-Choräle”: No. 6, Kommst du nun, Jesu, vom Himmel herunter, BWV 65003:29 |
