On a DVD of 244 minutes' duration, the Toccata & Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565, is studied in films written, produced, and directed by Will Fraser, famous for his Fugue State Films videos and audio recordings on CD and online about the organ, its music, and builders of organs (especially Cavaillé-Coll and Schnitger).
Hosting the production is British organist Daniel Moult, who also hosted the first release in this trilogy of films about J. S. Bach. Other musicians and experts present material in the production. Of course, a primary issue addressed is whether J. S. Bach composed this famous piece attributed to him, In addition to BWV 565, other works by Bach are performed on the DVD and on an included CD, with points regarding their relationships to BWV 565. Those works are: Toccata in C, BWV 566a Prelude & Fugue in A Minor, BWV 543 Prelude & Fugue in D Major, BWV 532 Trio Sonata in G Major, BWV 530 Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her, BWV 738 Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend, BWV 709 Jesu, meine Zuversicht, BWV 728
Liebster jesu, wir sind hier, BWV 731
All are played on two of the finest organs in the world, the Martinikerk in Groningen (Schnitger) and the Petruskerk in Leens (Hinsz).
Interviewed and presenting in the films are Christine Blanken, Peter Wollny, Markus Zepf, harpsichordist Terence Charlston, and violinist Fenella Humphreys.
A two-minute introduction to Bach: The Great Toccata, featuring the awesome plenum of the Martinikerk Schnitger organ, is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF3lZ5DhGds
Five films on the DVD include: "The Great Toccata" cocumentary, 102 minutes; demonstration of the Martinikerk Schnitger organ, 20 minutes; demonstration of the Petruskerk, Leens, Hinsz organ, 14 minutes; introductions to the performances, 48 minutes; performances, 60 minutes.
Imported by Raven.
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