Search - Johann Sebastian Bach, Anthony Newman :: Bach: Favorite Organ Works

Way way WAY too fast

Mark Dirksen | Beverly Mass. United States | 01/03/2003

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Do these performances have anything at all to recommend them? Yes: it is interesting to hear non-autograph manual changes on a modern recording of Bach's organ works. Younger organists who know only the monochromatic everything-pleno performance practices of contemporary players may profit from studying Newman's approach to concertato interpretation.But ye gods! the playing is out of control. Another review praises the lack of "adagio boring stuff", but there is no virtue in speed alone - in a piece such as the C major trio (BWV 529) it verges on blasphemy. It would be laughable, if it wasn't disturbing. This is music written with a higher purpose than mere virtuoso display, so the shockingly fast tempi are all about Newman, not about Bach.I will admit that the Passacaglia comes off best (even at this pace) and I do appreciate his over-the-top cadenza with the following grand rallentando: too many performances never really "bring it all home." But please don't look to this as your only recording of these masterpieces. There is far more depth and delight in this music than Newman's flashy approach can ever reveal."

But can YOU even play it!

William Jergensen | Uncasville, Ct, USA | 07/31/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I am an organist. I have listened to the masters: Virgil Fox, Michael Murray, E. Power Biggs, etc. While I DO admit that the works are some what fast; it shows the INCREDIBLE talent of the organist. The Gigue Fugue and the Fugue in A minor and C minor are examples of almost music that incourages "self abuse!!" To have the talent to play the music at the speed he does with his feet FASTER than most people can play with both hands is impressive. Why not just appreciate the RAW talent of the man and forget about nit-picking the speed!"

A potentially good interpretation ruined by a strangely insa

classical newb | 01/15/2008

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Just like the other reviewers said, Newman is simply too fast. I also own his Goldberg Variations, which it turned out pretty good and unique, but not this CD. In my personal taste, most organ players, I have heard suffers for being slightly slower than I would have liked, but in the case of Newman, it seems that he is just testing himself to see how fast he can play. Now, if Newman makes another CD with the speed between this CD and what is considered to be the average speed, then I would gladly pay 10$ for such CD; for example, Toccata and Fugue in D minor he plays in 7:10. The "average" speed would be around 8:40 for that piece, and if he played "a bit slower" (say, at 8 minutes) then at that point the music could be enjoyable. But at this speed, Bach masterpieces are simply ruined."