Very little is known about the origin of J. S. Bach's seven Toccatas (BWV?910-916) or of their use. They are believed to have been written before 1717 or the end of Bach's Weimar period - but it is quite possible that at least some of them were drafted before he arrived there in 1707, at the age of 22. The Toccatas are usually performed on harpsichord or piano - but even though they are 'manualiter' (intended to be played by the hands only) and do not call for pedal parts, they are also occasionally heard on the organ. In terms of style they are examples of the so-called stylus phantasticus - 'the most free and unfettered method of composition' - and belong to the North German organ tradition of the late 17th century. Each piece consists of several distinct and contrasting sections, interweaving strict counterpoint and fugal passages with freely rhapsodic material, and as such the toccatas differ from the two-movement prelude-and-fugue format which Bach later would put his own, indelible stamp on. With this disc, Masaaki Suzuki takes on some of the earliest of Bach's extant harpsichord compositions, after having released acclaimed recordings of a wide range of later works, from the two-part Inventions to the two books of the Well-Tempered Clavier. However, he also brings his experience in performing the music of Bach's North German predecessors to bear, for instance Buxtehude (BIS-1809) and Nicolaus Bruhns.

Tracklist:

Toccata In G Minor, Bwv 915: Adagio
Toccata In G Minor, Bwv 915: Allegro - Adagio
Toccata In G Minor, Bwv 915: Fuga
Toccata In D Minor, Bwv 913 (Second Version): Toccata
Toccata In D Minor, Bwv 913 (Second Version): Fuga
Toccata In D Minor, Bwv 913 (Second Version): Adagio
Toccata In D Minor, Bwv 913 (Second Version): Allegro
Toccata In G Major, Bwv 916: Toccata
Toccata In G Major, Bwv 916: Adagio
Toccata In G Major, Bwv 916: Allegro E Presto
Toccata In C Minor, Bwv 911: Toccata - Adagio
Toccata In C Minor, Bwv 911: Allegro
Toccata In E Minor, Bwv 914: Toccata - Un Poco Allegro
Toccata In E Minor, Bwv 914: Adagio
Toccata In E Minor, Bwv 914: Fuga Á 3
Toccata In D Major, Bwv 912 (Second Version): Toccata - Allegro
Toccata In D Major, Bwv 912 (Second Version): Adagio
Toccata In D Major, Bwv 912 (Second Version): Fuga
Toccata In F-Sharp Minor, Bwv 910: Toccata
Toccata In F-Sharp Minor, Bwv 910: Presto E Staccato
Toccata In F-Sharp Minor, Bwv 910: Tocatta
Toccata In F-Sharp Minor, Bwv 910: Fuga

UPC: 7318599922218
Label: Bis
Release Date: 3.6.20
Format: CD

J Bach S / Suzuki - Toccatas BWV 910-916 (CD)