Bach: Little Fugue in G minor, BWV 578 / Helmut Walcha et al.
This fugue is often performed by principal pipes. A distinctive feature is the presentation of the counter-melody in two separate voices when the third theme is introduced (tenor). As usual, let’s compare different performances.
① Simon Preston (2010, recorded 1980～)
② David Goode (2020)
③ Helmut Walcha (1956 – 1962)
④ Helmut Walcha (1947 – 1952), monaural
⑤ Bernard Foccroulle (1982 – 1997)
⑥ Stefano Molardi (2013)
⑦ Peter Hurford (1974 – 1986)
⑧ Wolfgang Rübsam (1996)
⑨ Marie-Claire Alain (1959 – 1967)
⑩ Marie-Claire Alain (1978 – 1980)
⑪ Ton Koopman (1994 – 1999)
① Preston’s performance is relatively orthodox, featuring principal pipes. ② Goode and ③④ Walcha use a principal with a mix of high-pitched pipes. ⑤ Foccroulle also adds a high-pitched flute pipe to the principal. ⑥ Molardi plays with a reed pipe added to the principal. He also adds a fairly large reed pipe to the pedal to create a thick tone. ⑦ Hurford uses a reed pipe for the high-pitched principal, and also uses a reed pipe to enhance the sound in the pedal. ⑧ Rübsam has a stop configuration almost the same as ⑤, but his tempo is the fastest of all the performers. ⑨⑩Alain plays mainly with the principal, but in ⑨ she adds an even higher-pitched principal. In ⑪, Koopman, using primarily reed pipes (32feet), transforms this “Little Fugue” into a “Grand Fugue”. He particularly uses larger reed pipes for the pedal work, creating a powerful resonance. #baroque #bach #organ #fugue #片山俊幸
https://excelkobo.net/bachwerke/archive/BWV0578.pdf
