Piece d'orgue BWV572....Bach
Aria alla Bach Op 101 No 6b....Karg-Elert
Chorale alla Bach Op 101 No 6c....Karg-Elert
Fugues on BACH Op 60 Nos 1,3,5....Schumann
Fantasia and Fugue on BACH....Liszt
The Pro-Cathedral's annual series of lunchtime organ recitals began last Wednesday. Gerard Gillen, the cathedral's titular organist, played music of Bach and Romantic composers inspired by him.
The programme included two pleasing curios of Baroque pastiche by Karg-Elert, and Nos. 1, 3 and 5 of Schumann's six Fugues on BACH. Schumann wrote these fugues with high-minded purpose; but his quirky side keeps popping out, especially in No. 5.
In Bach's Piece d'orgue BWV572 I would have preferred a fractionally slower speed in the long central section, so that it could breath amidst the massive effect of the five-part textures. Nevertheless, Gerard Gillen delivered an effective account of one of Bach's most distinctive organ works.
The highlight of this recital was Liszt's Fantasia and Fugue on BACH, where the playing, the instrument and the idea behind the music seemed at one. The greatest challenge in this piece lies in making Liszt's parade of written-down improvisations around BACH (the German names for B flat, A, C and B) sound like a chain of inspired discoveries. In that respect, this was an impressive, exhilarating performance.
