Bach: Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565; Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 538 (Dorian); Toccata and Fugue in F, BWV 540; Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C, BWV 564; Fantasia and Fugue in G minor, BWV 542

COMPOSERS: Bach
LABELS: Calliope
WORKS: Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565; Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 538 (Dorian); Toccata and Fugue in F, BWV 540; Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C, BWV 564; Fantasia and Fugue in G minor, BWV 542
PERFORMER: André Isoir (organ)
CATALOGUE NO: CAL 9799 DDD (1975) (distr. Harmonia Mundi)

This selection of toccatas and fugues, taken from André Isoir’s award-winning mid-Seventies survey of Bach’s complete organ works, continues to delight and surprise. There is a lightness of touch and subtle use of rubato within phrases which gave Isoir’s interpretation the edge over many of his rivals. There are many stylistic felicities to enjoy here, especially some wonderfully inventive echo effects in the C major Toccata BWV 564. It is also a pleasure to hear fugues in which there is no compulsion from the player to draw out reed stops towards the end. The recorded sound is reasonable throughout, if a little muddy in the pedal register. Stephen Haylett