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Label:
  Sony Classical - http://klassik.sonymusic.de/
Serial:
  SS 87983
Title:
  Bach: The Four Great Toccatas and Fugues - E. Power Biggs
Description:
  Bach: The Four Great Toccatas and Fugues

E. Power Biggs (organ)
Track listing:
 
Genre:
  Classical - Instrumental
Content:
  Stereo/Multichannel
Media:
  Single Layer
Recording type:
  Analogue
Recording info:
 

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Reviews: 5 show all

Review by darkroommd January 5, 2007 (8 of 8 found this review helpful)
Performance:   Sonics:  
This is an excellent multichannel SACD, which takes great advantage of what the medium can do. The multiple opposing organs playing through different channels creates a great effect. And the tremendous detail of the SACD allows you to savor the hall's acoustics, through every last nuance of the reverberations. The spaciousness and sonority is unmatched by any other CD I own, including other big "organ blaster" albums.

Regarding Biggs' performance, I like his choices of registers on the organs pretty much all the time. I have 3 other recordings of the great D minor (BWV 565), and I find his articulation a bit less pleasing than the others. It almost seems he is forced to use exaggerated staccato on some notes so that the room's large reverberations do not muddy the piece. Others have written that Biggs' technique had deteriorated slightly at this point in his career.

Nevertheless, I enjoy this CD very much and it will be returned to often, but moreso for the SACD showcase experience than the performance itself.

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Review by Monteverdi April 10, 2004 (6 of 6 found this review helpful)
Performance:   Sonics:
E. Power Biggs was one of the great artists of Columbia Records for several decades with many of us growing up with his recordings. His playing was always the model of integrity.

It is a pleasure to hear these recordings now in the surround sound splendor of SACD. Biggs’ choice of registrations was always interesting, surprising and unique. The playing is solid and straightforward with the rhythmic plus steady and secure. It is a thoroughly enjoyable recital.

The amazing analogue engineering is first rate. And there are some choice pedal notes to feed to your subwoofer!
©DAE 2004

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Review by vonwegen June 14, 2004 (3 of 4 found this review helpful)
Performance:   Sonics:
Absolutely superb, with some real floor-shaking bass notes. Fabulous reverb & instrument placement in surround mode. Highly recommended.

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Works: 4  

Johann Sebastian Bach - Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 538 "Dorian"
Johann Sebastian Bach - Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565
Johann Sebastian Bach - Toccata and Fugue in F Major, BWV 540
Johann Sebastian Bach - Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C Major, BWV 564