Rating : - musical equivalent of a cathedral
I consider Bach's organ works the musical equivalent of a cathedral. Of course everyone has heard one version or another of the Toccata and Fugue in D minor but I find this version a breath of fresh air in this regard. It can be characterized as pert and precise as opposed to plodding, which seemed the usual way it has been played. I especially appreciate this rendition of the Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor. This piece is perhaps the best illustration of how Bach constructs beautiful complexity from initially very simple parts through repetition and variation. There is a sense of seeing the individual blocks being laid as you slowly step back and witness the grandiosity of this musical cathedral. I find Biggs' performance appropriate for each piece. Recording quality is very good. On some pieces, I found the faint sound of squeaks and tumbles from the organ mechanism imparted a feeling of being in the organist's shoes as the piece is playing. Wonderful.