Toccatas & Fantasias-organ Works: Alain

Bach - Organs, Toccatas & Fantasias
A film by Bruno Monsaingeon

J.S. Bach:
Toccata in F major, BWV540
Toccata & Fugue in D minor, BWV565
Trio Sonata No. 1 in E flat major, BWV525 - extracts
Fantasia & Fugue in G minor, BWV542 'Great' - extracts
Chorale Prelude BWV648 'Meine Seele erhebt den Herren'
Chorale Prelude BWV639 'Ich ruf' zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ'
Chorale Prelude BWV622 'O Mensch, bewein' dein' Sunde gros'

Marie-Claire Alain, organ

This 1990 programme can best be described as a musical journey through Baroque Europe in the company of Johann Sebastian Bach, as performed by Marie-Claire Alain. The legendary French organist, Marie-Claire Alain, plays some of the composer's greatest organ music on the most magnificent and famous organs in Europe.

As she plays she also gives a fascinating insight into their history, and shares her deep knowledge and passion for these instruments and the genius of Bach. Bach travelled little during his lifetime, but director Bruno Monsaingeon extends the geographical scope of Bach's activities by including organs best suited to his music. The instruments featured here, at venues including Haarlem, Groningen, Rotha and Dresden are ones which Bach himself would have played, or which were built to his specifications.

Approx Duration: 55 mins
Picture format: NTSC 4:3, Colour
Region Code: 2,3,4,5
Audio: L-PCM Stereo
Programme language: French
Subtitles: English, French, German