Bach's Great Organ Mass

Recordings/Discussions
Background Information
Performer Bios

Poet/Composer Bios

Additional Information

Instrumental Works: Recordings, Reviews & Discussions - Main Page | Order of Discussion
Recording Reviews of Instrumental Works: Main Page | Organ | Keyboard | Solo Instrumental | Chamber | Orchestral, MO, AOF
Performers of Instrumental Works: Main Page | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

Kay Johannssen (Organ)

Bach’s Great Organ Mass

R-16	Edition Bachakademie Vol. 101: Organ Works - Clavier Übung Third Part
Prelude & Fugue in E flat major ("St. Anne"), BWV 552: Prelude 8:55] Chorale Prelude Kyrie, Gott Vater in Ewigkeit (I), BWV 669 [3:32] Chorale Prelude Christe, aller Welt Trost (I), BWV 670 [4:52] Chorale Prelude Kyrie, Gott heiliger Geist (I), BWV 671 [5:00] Chorale Prelude Kyrie, Gott Vater in Ewigkeit (II), BWV 672 [2:02] Chorale Prelude Christe, aller Welt Trost (II), BWV 673 [1:49] Chorale Prelude Kyrie, Gott heiliger Geist (II), BWV 674 [1:36] Chorale Prelude Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr (V), BWV 675 [3:10] Chorale Prelude Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr (VI), BWV 676 [4:47] Chorale Prelude (Fughetta super) Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr, BWV 677 [1:23] Chorale Prelude Dies sind die heilgen zehn Gebot (II), BWV 678 [4:52] Chorale Prelude (Fughetta super) Dies sind die heilgen zehn Gebot, BWV 679 [1:55] Chorale Prelude Wir glauben all an einen Gott (I), BWV 680 [3:05] Chorale Prelude (Fughetta super) Wir glauben all an einen Gott, BWV 681 [1:14] Chorale Prelude Vater unser im Himmelreich (II), BWV 682 [6:43] Chorale Prelude Vater unser im Himmelreich (III), BWV 683 [1:11] Chorale Prelude Christ, unser Herr, zum Jordan kam (I), BWV 684 [4:26] Chorale Prelude Christ, unser Herr, zum Jordan kam (II), BWV 685 [1:32] Chorale Prelude Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir (I), BWV 686 [6:13] Chorale Prelude Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir (II), BWV 687 [4:49] Chorale Prelude Jesus Christus, unser Heiland (VI), BWV 688 [3:32] Chorale Prelude (Fuga super) Jesus Christus unser Heiland, BWV 689 [4:38] Duets BWV 802-805 [3:00, 3:40, 2:50, 2:36] Prelude & Fugue in E flat major ("St. Anne"), BWV 552: Fugue [7:10]
Kay Johannsen (Organ) [Erasmus-Bielfeldt Organ]
Hänssler		Oct 25-27, 1998	2-CD / TT: 100:42
Recorded at St. Wilhadi, Stade, Germany. Buy this album at: Amazon.com \| Amazon.co.uk \| Amazon.co.uk

Donald Satz wrote (January 9, 2000):
In my short review of the Channel Classics concept recording of the Great Organ Mass, I had recommended that those not familar with these works first listen to the entire Mass. As it happens, I was browsing through one of my CD storage drawers last night and came across a fairly recent recording of the complete Mass on Hanssler performed by Kay Johannsen - 2-CD set - catalog no. 92.101.

I immediately starting listening, as I was interested in comparing the quality of the two organ interpretations. Uniformly, Johannsen displays a greater sense of meaningful drama, joy, or any other emotion you might think of while listening to the work. Concerning recorded sound, I suppose many would opt for the lush sound of the Channel Classics set; it is outstanding. However, the more basic sound on the Hanssler release has the advantage of fully detailing the part playing, and Johannsen is superb in this area. In fact, he's a great Bach interpreter all around.

Johannsen also plays the Four Duets on organ. The organ interpretation gives these pieces a greater mystery than the harpsichord or piano and are as idiomatic as I could want.

I haven't changed my opinion of the Channel Classics release. But I do prefer the Organ Mass complete, and with playing at the level of Johannsen's, the Hanssler release is a mandatory acquisition. Go buy it. The opening Praeludium will have you in its grasp from its initial theme and you'll be rushing to put on the second disc.

Great Organ Mass BWV 669-689: Great Organ Mass - Doeselaar | Great Organ Mass - Johannssen | Clavier-Ubung III - Suzuki

Complete Bach's Organ Works on Hänssler: Recordings
Short Biographies: Bine Katrine Bryndorf | Pieter van Dijk | Kay Johannsen | Martin Lücker | Andrea Marcon | Wolfgang Zerer
Reviews: Early Bach Organ Works from Andrea Marcon (A. Marcon) | “Scales from Weimar” (M. Lücker) | Five Recordings of Bach’s Orgelbüchlein (W. Zerer) | Bach Organ Transcriptions from Pieter van Dijk (P.v. Dijk) | Three Recent Recordings of Bach's Leipzig Chorales: Part 1 | Part 2 (B.K. Bryndorf) | “Late Organ Works from the Leipzig Period” (M. Lücker) | Bach’s Trio Sonatas for Organ from Johannsen and Lippincott (K. Johannsen) | Bach Great Organ Mass by Kay Johannssen (K. Johannsen)

Back to the Top

Last update: Wednesday, May 31, 2017 10:41