Bach: Sonatas Bwv 525-530

On this CD:

1. Trio sonata for organ No. 6 in G major, BWV 530
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by John Gibbons, Paul Robinson

2. Trio sonata for organ No. 3 in D minor, BWV 527
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by John Gibbons, Paul Robinson

3. Trio sonata for organ No. 5 in C major, BWV 529
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by John Gibbons, Paul Robinson

4. Trio sonata for organ No. 4 in E minor, BWV 528
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by John Gibbons, Paul Robinson

5. Trio sonata for organ No. 1 in E flat major, BWV 525
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by John Gibbons, Paul Robinson

6. Trio sonata for organ No. 2 in C minor, BWV 526
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by John Gibbons, Paul Robinson

Tracks:

Sonata No. 1 In E-Flat Major, BWV 525: I. ( Intro)
Sonata No. 1 In E-Flat Major, BWV 525: II. Adagio
Sonata No. 1 In E-Flat Major, BWV 525: III. Allegro
Sonata No. 2 In C Minor, BWV 526: I. Vivace
Sonata No. 2 In C Minor, BWV 526: II. Largo
Sonata No. 2 In C Minor, BWV 526: III. Allegro
Sonata No. 3 In D Minor, BWV 527: I. Andante
Sonata No. 3 In D Minor, BWV 527: II. Adagio e dolce
Sonata No. 3 In D Minor, BWV 527: III. Vivace
Sonata No. 4 In E Minor, BWV 528: I. Adagio. Vivace
Sonata No. 4 In E Minor, BWV 528: II. Andante
Sonata No. 4 In E Minor, BWV 528: III. Un poco allegro
Sonata No. 5 In C Major, BWV 529: I. Allegro
Sonata No. 5 In C Major, BWV 529: II. Largo
Sonata No. 5 In C Major, BWV 529: III. Allegro
Sonata No. 6 In G Major, BWV 530: I. Vivace
Sonata No. 6 In G Major, BWV 530: II. Lento
Sonata No. 6 In G Major, BWV 530: III. Allegro

Customer Reviews:

My second-favorite CD.......2002-02-20

After E. Power Biggs' recording of the Tocatta and Preludes and fugues, this is my favorite CD.

Biggs' playing is flawless and wonderful, and the instrument excellent. The precision of the harpsichord makes an excellent version of these works; on the organ, the subtleties are often lost in the instrument's power.

This CD is the best recording of the trio sonatas around, and one of the best recordings -- period.

Organ standards wonderfully played on pedal harpsichord........1999-07-16

I believe this is the first CD release of any of the series of wonderful albums E. Power Biggs did back in the 1960s: recordings of various J.S. Bach organ standards played on the pedal harpsichord. (Bach kept a pedal harpsichord at home for organ practice when he didn't want to go down to the church.) While the pedal harpsichord lacks the sheer power of the organ, it articulates the complex voices of Bach's music much better. Listen to a piece on the pedal harpsichord, and when you return to the organ version, your understanding and appreciation will be greatly enhanced. Biggs does a fantastic job here on Bach's trio sonatas. Now if Sony would only release the rest of those albums as well! Biggs's pedal harpsichord versions of BWV 565 and 582 are a revelation.

Incredible organ technique brings Bach Trio Sonatas to life.......1998-10-10

The Bach Trio Sonatas are among the clearest, yet most complex organ works. While many musicians have played them, including such accomplished artists as Virgil Fox, it takes the quick, light, and almost playful technique of E. Power Biggs to bring them to life.

Nowhere will you find a better rendition of these works; I doubt that Bach himself could have played them better. Mr. Biggs' understanding of every nuance is unquestioned. The result is a masterpiece, a blend of ancient music, and modern artist, on an instrument that can only be described as magical.

The Bach Trio Sonatas might make excellent dinner music, but do yourself a favor: play them in a quiet house, kick the dog out for a walk *before* you start listening, and then crank up the volume just a little bit. Be sure to let the dog back in before you start this CD - you won't want to get up to open the door.

The only unfortunate aspect of this CD is that Sony hasn't released all of Mr. Biggs works, so this CD, and the rest of his art, comes to an end much too soon.

Tracks:

Son No.1 in E flat: (without tempo indication)
Son No.1 in E flat: Adagio
Son No.1 in E flat: Allegro
Son No.2 in c: Vivace
Son No.2 in c: Largo
Son No.2 in c: Allegro
Son No.3 in d: Andante
Son No.3 in d: Adagio e dolce
Son No.3 in d: Vivace
Son No.4 in e: Adagio-Vivace
Son No.4 in e: Andante
Son No.4 in e: Un poc'allegro
Son No.5 in C: Allegro
Son No.5 in C: Largo
Son No.5 in C: Allegro
Son No.6 in G: Vivace
Son No.6 in G: Lento
Son No.6 in G: Allegro

Customer Reviews:

A wonderful recording of these Bach masterpieces.......1999-07-08

Ton Koopman displays truly great playing. The trio sonatas of Bach seem simple but are extremely difficult and true masterpieces which Koopman plays wonderful with great choices of registration and interpretation. A must for the organ lover!

Average customer rating:

A delightful, facinating performance
Life-sustaining music
Great NPR story turned me on to this...

JS Bach: Keyboard Trio Sonatas

Manufacturer: Lyrichord Discs Inc.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00004SCDO
Release Date: 2000-05-23

Tracks:

Trio Sonata In E Minor, BWV 528: Adagio - Vivace
Trio Sonata In E Minor, BWV 528: Andante
Trio Sonata In E Minor, BWV 528: Allegro
Trio Sonata In G Maor, BWV 530: Vivace
Trio Sonata In G Maor, BWV 530: Lento
Trio Sonata In G Maor, BWV 530: Allegro
Trio Sonata In C Monor, BWV 526: Vivace
Trio Sonata In C Monor, BWV 526: Largo
Trio Sonata In C Monor, BWV 526: Allegro
Trio Sonata In E-Flat Major, BWV 525: Allegro
Trio Sonata In E-Flat Major, BWV 525: Andante
Trio Sonata In E-Flat Major, BWV 525: Allegro
Trio Sonata In D Minor, BWV 527: Andante
Trio Sonata In D Minor, BWV 527: Adagio e dolce
Trio Sonata In D Minor, BWV 527: Vivace
Trio Sonata In C Major, BWV 529: Allegro
Trio Sonata In C Major, BWV 529: Largo
Trio Sonata In C Major, BWV 529: Allegro

Amazon.com

These great pieces are three-movement works written in emulation of the Trio Sonata format (two melody instruments and accompaniment) for solo organ. They are masterpieces, but they are not as well known as Bach's other instrumental works. Some listeners find the sound of an organ difficult to enjoy, and even those who like organ music have trouble finding recordings that offer the music with enough clarity to follow the lines. One solution is to arrange these pieces for other instruments. Paula Robison and John Gibbons have recorded a splendid set for flute and harpsichord. But following an 1800 edition for two harpsichords, Leopard and Paul now perform them on two "lute-harpsichords." These are not authentic instruments; we know that Bach had a lautenwerk but none have survived and we don't know what they sounded like. But the extreme clarity of the instruments (the opposite extreme from the organ!) and the articulation and drive of the performances do a fine job of making the music accessible--especially if you prefer the lute or harpsichord to the organ. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

A delightful, facinating performance.......2003-07-17

I've had trouble finding a satisfying version of this work. I tried a couple of organ versions, but found that they didn't hold my interest. Not that I don't like Bach organ works - the Biggs performances of such pieces as the Passacalia and the Toccata and Fugue in Dm are among the works that first got me interested in Bach so many years ago. But no performance on organ seemed to work for me on these pieces. I then tried an instrumental transciption - the King's Consort version. I found it to be an interesting idea, but after some listening I found that it wasn't a satisfying performance. It just didn't grab me and facinate me the way good Bach performanes should. When I came across this dual-keyboard CD I hesitated at first because it seemed like a gimic. But the idea of a crisply articulated version on lute-harpsichord seemed intriging, so I gave it a try. I'm very glad I did. This is a first rate Bach performance that captures the intricate interplay and inevitable unwinding of the notes that is so endlessly facinating in the best Bach performances. There's so much music I enjoy, but no matter what I come across, there's a special place in my heart for Bach, and this is one of those performances that makes it so.

Life-sustaining music.......2000-11-09

I'm a more-n-more devoted lover of the music of J. S. Bach -- though I should say I have absolutely *no* formal training in classical music, whether history or performance. I simply love the music. There seems to be nothing in life that is more profound, or beautiful, or just revelatory of the good and great side of humanity, than this man's music.

It's cliche, but re: this recording I wish there was a six-star rating. I've been listening to it again and again during some rather stressful life and work moments, and the revelations just keep coming. The sound of the twin lautenwercke is astounding, and the performances allow the music to speak in crystal volumes, right through one's ears and down into the "soul" ... whatever *that* is.

I can't say enough good things about this recording. It's a particular solace and treasure to me.

Great NPR story turned me on to this..........2000-08-10

I'm not a big classical music fan, but I heard the story about this CD on NPR and found my favorite new CD. The sound of the lute-harpsichord is so unique and sweet. To think that this instrument almost disappeared! Thank goodness for these folks bringing it back to life.

Average customer rating:

Bach: Trio Sonatas

Manufacturer: Linn Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000399Q
Release Date: 1996-04-30

Tracks:

Trio Son in C, BWV 530: Vivace
Trio Son in C, BWV 530: Lento
Trio Son in C, BWV 530: Allegro
Duetto in e, BWV 802
Duetto in F, BWV 803
Trio Son in G, BWV 525: Andant
Trio Son in G, BWV 525: Adagio e dolce
Trio Son in G, BWV 525: Vivace
Trio Son in g, BWV 527: Andant
Trio Son in g, BWV 527: Adagio e dolce
Trio Son in g, BWV 527: Vivace
Duetto in G, BWV 804
Duetto in a, BWV 805
Trio Son in F, BWV 529: Allegro
Trio Son in F, BWV 529: Largo
Trio Son in F, BWV 529: Allegro
Fourteen 'Goldberg' Canons, BWV 1087

Average customer rating:

Trio Sonatas for Organ - John Butt
Just Beautiful
A great interpretation

Bach: Trio Sonatas for Organ

Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000026D3C
Release Date: 1999-10-12

Tracks:

Son No.1 in E flat, BWV 525: Allegro Moderato
Son No.1 in E flat, BWV 525: Adagio
Son No.1 in E flat, BWV 525: Allegro
Son No.2 in c, BWV 526: Vivace
Son No.2 in c, BWV 526: Largo
Son No.2 in c, BWV 526: Allegro
Son No.3 in d, BWV 527: Andante
Son No.3 in d, BWV 527: Adagio E Dolce
Son No.3 in d, BWV 527: Vivace
Son No.4 in e, BWV 528: Adagio/Vivace
Son No.4 in e, BWV 528: Andante
Son No.4 in e, BWV 528: Un Poco Allegro
Son No.5 in C, BWV 529: Allegro
Son No.5 in C, BWV 529: Largo
Son No.5 in C, BWV 529: Allegro
Son No.6 in G, BWV 530: Vivace
Son No.6 in G, BWV 530: Lento
Son No.6 in G, BWV 530: Allegro

Customer Reviews:

Trio Sonatas for Organ - John Butt.......2004-01-04

I have heard many recordings of Bach's Trio Sonatas. This I like the most. John Butt's playing is so fluent & the organ sound is sweet & clear & well suited to these baroque masterpieces.

The profusion of interwoven melodic strands creates beautiful patterns that remind me why JS Bach has been described as 'the distiller of the essence of musical craft.'

The density of the writing is such with three tunes playing simultaneously, that you may need to listen a few times before your mind begins to unwrap these gems, then before you know it they will be playing over & over in your mind.
I have listened to them for years & still find them to be as intriguing as the first few times I heard them.
There is more melodic content in the trios than in the entire output of most other composers yet they are just a tiny portion of Bachs output !
Plato spoke of 'perfect forms in the ideal world.' If there is an ideal world somewhere then this must be the music playing there.

This recording of the Trio Sonatas played by by John Butt is also available for $6.98 from Amazon on Classical Express label, #3957055, ASIN: B00005MNIV entitled "Bach Organ Music."
So much music & so well recorded & played by John Butt & all for just $6.98. Amazing !

Just Beautiful.......2001-10-23

This is one among the best renditions of the Trio Sonatas I have ever heard; many other renditions seem pale and dull in comparison. These are wonderful, charming works, and the performer John Butt has delivered Bach's most-subtle nuances in a perfectly flowing way; both the organ and the CD recording are really beautiful.

This one hits all the notes just right. Even those folks who are initially put off by the church-ish solemnity in some of the movements will eventually realize these are just one of many expressions among Bach's splendid and endless spectrum of emotions.

This is a perfect Bach-for-driving CD. Can't exactly say why, but it works great in that environment ! It just may be the first ever Baroque space-music.

So why not slip into a mood of antique peace, and let yourself ponder the age-old Reckoning with Life along with J.S. Bach, even while you are stuck like a bug in the day's traffic-molasses ? Who cares about traffic ? Let it flow as it does. Bach is saying something celestial to us, so just listen close and let it open up.

A great interpretation.......2000-08-11

This is the first CD I bought from Harmonia Mundi, and I am not disappointed, by far, by the quality of the interpretation. It may seem sometimes not to be the right tempo (a little slow), but the overall quality is very good. I will just regret that the quality of the sound capture is not as good as it could have been.

Tracks:

Son in E flat, BWV 525: 1. (Presto)
Son in E flat, BWV 525: 2. Adagio
Son in E flat, BWV 525: 3. Allegro
Son in c, BWV 526: 1. Vivace
Son in c, BWV 526: 2. Largo
Son in c, BWV 526: 3. Allegro
Son in D, BWV 527: 1. Andante
Son in D, BWV 527: 2. Adagio E Dolce
Son in D, BWV 527: 3. Vivace
Son in e, BWV 528: 1. Adagio-Vivace
Son in e, BWV 528: 2. Andante
Son in e, BWV 528: 3. Allegro
Son in C, BWV 529: 1. Allegro
Son in C, BWV 529: 2. Largo
Son in C, BWV 529: 3. Allegro
Son in G, BWV 530: 1. Vivace
Son in G, BWV 530: 2. Lente
Son in G, BWV 530: 3. Allegro

Average customer rating:

"Roguish Playfulness"

Bach: Trio Sonatas

Manufacturer: Virgin Veritas
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002SQS
Release Date: 2001-05-01

Tracks:

Son No.5 in F (After Son No.5 in C, BWV 529): I: Allegro
Son No.5 in F (After Son No.5 in C, BWV 529): II: Largo
Son No.5 in F (After Son No.5 in C, BWV 529): III: Allegro
Son No.4 in e (After Son No.4 in e, BWV 528): I: Adagio-Vivace
Son No.4 in e (After Son No.4 in e, BWV 528): II: Andante
Son No.4 in e (After Son No.4 in e, BWV 528): III: Un Poc'allegro
Son No.6 in C (After Son No.6 in G, BWV 530): I: (Vivace)
Son No.6 in C (After Son No.6 in G, BWV 530): II: Lente
Son No.6 in C (After Son No.6 in G, BWV 530): III: Allegro
Son No.3, in g (After Son No.3 in d, BWV 527): I: Andante
Son No.3 in g, (After Son No.3 in d, BWV 527): II: Adagio E Dolce
Son No.3 in g (After Son No.3 in d, BWV 527): III: Vivace
Son No.2 in e (After Son No.2 in c, BWV 526): I: Vivace
Son No.2 in e (After Son No.2 in c, BWV 526): II: Largo
Son No.2 in e (After Son No.2 in c, BWV 526): III: Allegro
Son No.1 in B flat (After Son No.I in E flat, BWV 525): I: (Allegro)
Son No.1 in B flat (after Son No.I in E flat, BWV 525): II: Adagio
Son No.1 in B flat (After Son No.I in E flat, BWV 525): III: Allegro

Customer Reviews:

"Roguish Playfulness".......2006-07-15

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750): Trio Sonatas for Recorder, Violin and Basso Continuo. Arranged by Judith Linsenberg from the Trio Sonatas for Organ BWV 525 - 530. Performed by Musica Pacifica: Judith Linsenberg, alto recorder and voice flute; Elizabeth Blumenstock, violin; Elisabeth Le Guin, violoncello; Edward Parmentier, harpsichord.
Recorded at Pony Tracks Ranch, Portola Valley, California from 11th to 14th May, 1992.
Sponsored by the American Recorder Society and a number of private donors.
Released in 1996 on Virgin Classics 7243 5 45192 2 2.

Even today, after so many years of "historically informed performance practice", one occasionally still hears the complaint that musicians who have devoted themselves to playing early music on period instruments produce "museum sound"; others accuse them of being "slavishly bound" to the original. There could scarcely be better proof of what utter nonsense some people write than the CD of Bach's Trio Sonatas by Musica Pacifica. Bach conceived this music for a solo organist playing the two melody parts on two manuals and the basso continuo with his feet on the pedals. Realizing that Bach himself, however, was fond of rewriting his own music for various other combinations of instruments (and that he had, in fact, done so with one of the movements from this set of six sonatas), Judith Linsenberg set herself the task of converting them into sonatas for recorder (her own instrument), violin and continuo. Then, having done that, Musica Pacifica went about playing them with an ease and gaiety that caused the editor of a German-language Early Music magazine to speak of "roguish playfulness" and the "lightness of [Californian] being" and to award the recording his "Disc of the Month" status ("Alte Musik aktuell", September 1996).

Assuming that transcription is a legitimate means of transporting musical thought across the centuries, then this must be categorized as a highly successful and entertaining disc, and one that surely makes the structures of Bach's music much more transparent than they would be if the music were played on an organ. This is really "pretty" baroque music, comparable only with the very best of Telemann. If there is to be any criticism, it would perhaps be that during the recording sessions Judith Linsenberg appears to have been standing some way in front of the other players, thus slightly disadvantaging Elizabeth Blumenstock with her lovely violin tone.

Johann Sebastian Bach: Trio Sonatas for Organ (transcribed for 2 Violins, Cello & Harpsichord/Organ) - London Baroque

Average customer rating:

Spectacular playing

Johann Sebastian Bach: Trio Sonatas for Organ (transcribed for 2 Violins, Cello & Harpsichord/Organ) - London Baroque

Manufacturer: BIS
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Bach: Trio Sonatas BWV525-530
Bach: Six Trio Sonatas

ASIN: B00006IZPC
Release Date: 2002-09-24

Customer Reviews:

Spectacular playing.......2005-09-21

Simply brilliant.

Ideal for music lovers and essential listening for any organist hoping to learn these sonatas.

Average customer rating:

Bach: Trio Sonatas BWV525-530
Johann Sebastian Bach , Richard Boothby , Catherine MacIntosh , Catherine Weiss , Robert Woolley , and Purcell Quartet
Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Johann Sebastian Bach: Trio Sonatas for Organ (transcribed for 2 Violins, Cello & Harpsichord/Organ) - London Baroque

ASIN: B00004TD4X
Release Date: 2000-07-25

Bach: Organ works - Six Sonatas, BWV 525-530 (Edition Bachakademie Vol 99) /Johannsen

Average customer rating:

Bach: Organ works - Six Sonatas, BWV 525-530 (Edition Bachakademie Vol 99) /Johannsen

Manufacturer: Hanssler Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000JNJY
Release Date: 1999-07-13

Tracks: