Bach: Orgelbüchlein / Christopher Herrick

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Like most of Bach's greatest keyboard works, the Little Organ Book was designed for teaching through example. It contains 45 tiny chorale preludes, all designed according to the same principle. There are three genuine parts. One line has the hymn tune, which serves as the basis of the prelude, and the other two execute independent figures, which provide a musical analogue to the meaning of the most important lines of the text. Most of them aren't much more than a minute long, but each is simply exquisite. Christopher Herrick plays the complete set with consummate taste, and excellently chosen registrations that keep the polyphony crystal clear. --David Hurwitz

Tracks:

Prayer For Faith: Ich Ruf Zu Dir, Herr Jesus Christ (BWV639)
Advent: Gottes Sohn Ist kommen (BWV600)
Advent: Nun Komm, Der Heiden Heiland (BWV 599)
Advent: Lob Sei Dem Allmachtigen Gott (BWV602)
Advent: Herr Christ, Der Ein'ge Gottes Sohn (BWV601)
Salvation Through Faith: Es Ist Das Heil Uns Kommen Her (BWV638)
Christmas: Gelobet Seist Du, Jesu Christ (BWV604)
Christmas: Wir Christenleut (BWV612)
Christmas: Lobt Gott, Ihr Christen, Allzugleich (BWV609)
Christmas: Jesu, Meine Freude (BWV610)
Christmas: Puer Natus In Bethlehem (BWV603)
Christmas: Der Tag Der Ist So Freudenreich (BWV605)
Christmas: Vom Himmel Kam Der Engel Schar (BWV607)
Christmas: Christum Wir Sollen Loben Schon (BWV611)
Christmas: In Dulci Jubilo (BWV608)
Christmas: Vom Himmel Hoch Da Kjomm Ich Her (BWV606)
Before The Sermon: Leibster Jesu, Wir Sind Hier (BWV606)
Before The Sermon: Herr Jesu Christ, Dich Zu Uns Wend (BWV632)
New Year: Das Alte Jahr Vergangen Ist (BWV614)
New Year: Helft Mir Gotts Gute Preisen (BWV613)
New Year: Ind Dir Ist Freude (BWV615
Purification: Mit Fried Und Freude Ich Fahr Dahin (BWV616
Purification: Herr Gott, Nun Schleuss Den Himmel Auf (BWV617)
Passiontide: Christus, Der Uns Selig Macht (BWV620)
Passiontide: O Lamm Gottes, Unschuldig (BWV618)
Passiontide: Hilf Gott, Das Mir's Gelinge (BWV624)
Passiontide: O Mensch, Bewein Dein Sunde Gross (BWV622)
Passiontide: Christe, Du Lamm Gottes (BWV619)
Passiontide: Wir Danken Dir, Herr Jesu Christ (BWV623)
Passiontide: Da Jesus An Dem Kreuze Stund (BWV621)
Lord's Prayer: Vater Unser Im Himmelreich (BWV636)
Fall And Redemption: Durch Adams Fall Ist Ganz Verderbt (BWV637)
For The Dying: Ach Wie Nichtig, Ach Wie Fluchtig (BWV644)
For The Dying: Alle Menschen Mussen Sterben (BWV643)
EASTER: Erschienen Ist Der Herrliche Tag (BWV629)
EASTER: Erstanded Ist Der Heilge Christ (BWV628)
EASTER: Christ Ist Erstanden (BWV627)
EASTER: Jesus Christus, Unser Heiland (BWV626)
EASTER: Christ lag In Todesbanden (BWV625)
Ten Commandments: Dies Sind Die Heilgen Zehn Zehn Gebot (BWV635)
Trust In God: In Dich Hab Ich Gehoffet, Herr (BWV640
Trust In God: Wer Nur Den Lieben Gott Lasst walten (BWV642)
ASCENSION: Heut Triumphieret Gottes Sohn (BWV630)
In Times Of Trouble: Wenn Wir In Hochsten Noten Sein (BWV641)
Pentecost: Komm, Gott Schopfer, Heiliger Geist (BWV631)

Amazon.com

Like most of Bach's greatest keyboard works, the Little Organ Book was designed for teaching through example. It contains 45 tiny chorale preludes, all designed according to the same principle. There are three genuine parts. One line has the hymn tune, which serves as the basis of the prelude, and the other two execute independent figures, which provide a musical analogue to the meaning of the most important lines of the text. Most of them aren't much more than a minute long, but each is simply exquisite. Christopher Herrick plays the complete set with consummate taste, and excellently chosen registrations that keep the polyphony crystal clear. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Exemplary!.......2000-10-09

J. S. Bach's "Little Organ Book" is among the most useful teaching tools that modern organists can access. A collection of forty-five chorale preludes, each about a minute or two in length, re-composed in his style, it offers an insight into Bach as tutor and improvisor. Each chorale is a wonderfully compact example of his style.

Christopher Herrick plays the whole set, according to a liturgical framework, with marvellous clarity. His chosen instrument, though small, is perfect for the music, which is even further heightened by his choice of registration and his sensitive touch.

The booklet describes the collection as "bewilderingly rich," and 70 minutes of it may seem too much to handle in one hearing, as each one is over almost as soon as it has begun: listening to this disc completely from beginning to end is rather like drinking a large glass of water by taking tiny sips at a time. I find it far better to play chorales in shorter sequences (one such sequence is suggested by the producers, enabling you to listen to the chorales as ordered in Bach's manuscript). Also, that there are forty-five tracks does make for a disadvantage if you are trying to select a particular chorale around the middle of the disc!

Still, this is one of Hyperion's treasures- without any doubt. Beautifully presented, good for casual listeners, even better perhaps for students.

Music Review: