Bach - Prelude and fugue in E minor BWV 548 - Smits | Netherlands Bach Society

The Prelude and fugue in E minor, performed by Reitze Smits for All of Bach, one of the longest and most complicated organ works by Bach. It dates from his Leipzig period and is especially highly valued by lovers and connoisseurs of Bach’s organ music. Maarten ’t Hart describes the prelude as a forerunner of the lament of the wounded Amfortas in Wagner’s Parsifal, and thinks the fugue is ‘bewildering’, while the nineteenth-century Bach researcher Spitta even refers to it as ‘a two-part symphony’.
Recorded for the project All of Bach on September 16th 2014 at St Jacob's Church, Leeuwarden. If you want to help us complete All of Bach, please subscribe to our channel bit.ly/2vhCeFB and consider donating bit.ly/2uZuMj5.
For the interview with organist Reitze Smits on the Prelude and fugue in e minor go to • Smits on Bach Prelude ...
For more information on BWV 548 and this production go to allofbach.com/en/bwv/bwv-548/
All of Bach is a project of the Netherlands Bach Society / Nederlandse Bachvereniging, offering high-quality film recordings of the works by Johann Sebastian Bach, performed by the Netherlands Bach Society and its guest musicians. Visit our free online treasury for more videos and background material www.bachvereniging.nl/en/allo.... For concert dates and further information go to www.bachvereniging.nl/nederla....
Reitze Smits, organist
Organ: Christian Müller, 1727
0:00 Prelude
6:28 Fugue

[@hsevkiulvises]

This channel is one of the most precious treasures on the youtube ocean.

[@bobcinq]

On the continents also

[@Reuthacke]

A colossal, monumental work that opens the mind to realms above our ordinary consciousness

[@jonathanwyble4227]

Smits and Van Doeselaar are both BRINGING IT in these Netherlands Bach Society videos!

[@mrlucasa223]

So glad it's public on the youtube channel so I can add it to my playlist! This is the best version available without a doubt and I think Mr. Smits did an excellent job performing it for us. It's also available for free here on KZbin which is very generous. Thank you, NBS!

[@timotheospetros]

Arguably the greatest, most majestic organ piece ever written by man. Played to perfection.

[@andrewashdown3541]

Or 552, or 582, 544, 566, 572, 543, 542 ?

[@lukasmiller486]

I guess you haven’t heard Ad nos Ad Salutarem Undam by Franz Liszt.

[@andrewashdown3541]

@@lukasmiller486 And have you heard Bach's Dritter Theil der Clavier Übung bestehend in verschiedenen Vorspielen über die Catechismus und andere Gesaenge, vor die Orgel; Denen Liebhabern, und besonders denen Kennern von dergleichen Arbeit, zur Gemüths Ergezung verfertiget von Johann Sebastian Bach …’?

[@yaroslav_kaiuk]

Prelude - 00:07 Fugue - 06:29

[@leonhardeuler1426]

Great rendition of possibly my favorite Bach piece

[@_Athanos]

​@@matteomagurno3068 Leonhard Euler I guess

[@oliverkentish9468]

Smits' interpretation makes this work shine like crystal!

[@00muinamir]

'Scuse me while I go fetch my jaw off the floor, that was an amazing performance!

[@germanreyes1537]

From Chile, thank you very much. It is so beautifully played and filmed that we can experience almost the same emotion as hearing it live. This KZbin Channel is a World Heritage Site.

[@kavehrashidzadeh2413]

Very beautifully said, "world heritage site"! nbs people should know how much they have made life for us more beautiful. Thanks a million times dear nbs!

[@zacharybond23]

Absolutely amazing!

[@jamallabarge2665]

Very well balanced presentation!! Not too fast, not too slow, and really lively presentation! This is real head banging music!!!

[@doctorfoster1968]

I agree about the head banging! But it was just a little bit too fast for me :)

[@wilfriedlang2992]

Hervorragend gespielt und toll artikuliert! Herzlichen Dank für diese Interpretation.

[@SunshineNikki]

I must say…that this is an amazing jaw dropping performance that left my eyes popping and ears ringing 😎 Thanks for sharing ❤️

[@lenaN5k8Q9]

Such amazing music by Bach thank you for this wonderful performance 🍃

[@marcelouz1]

Tremendous masterpiece, all works for organ of BACH, are sublime, they go directly to the heavens, it is noticed that is a mature work may be comparable with the passacaglia and fugue in C minor, what a wonderful subject and incredible development. BACH for ever. Extraordinary interpretation.

[@kkjoshua789]

This is wonderful! Thank you NBS for making such a great project!

[@francismax2011]

His academic interpretation and understanding of registration give the performance spiritual depth and brilliant brilliance. Excellent.

[@wouterattheorgan]

been to 2 concerts here recently and man this organ has such a dynamic range in terms of volume and sound timbre. from the 2 flutes on the rugwerk and hoofdwerk to the very filling prestant chorus which as sietze has shown can support a service no problems to the even greater mixture plenum with the reeds. cannot wait to play this sampleset when it comes out on Sweelinq :)

[@rogernichols1124]

There's a relentless momentum in the prelude and an unremitting harmonic anchor-point in the minor key which gives the prelude a dramatic and almost tragic quality. The organo pieno registration is totally appropriate for sustaining this drama. As for the fugue, wow! What can one say other than if you want an insight into the mind of Bach, here it is: fugal writing of mind-boggling virtuosity and rising betond the conventional prelude-and-fugue pairing to heights of symphony majesty. I feel whsn listening to this that Bach is at the apex of his creative genius in a way not unlike Beethoven in his last string quartets. Thank you from the heart for this beautiful rendering of this masterpiece.

[@michaeltester5187]

Mind blowing music and performance. Just reflecting on the lifetime of mental, physical and creative effort, the dedication and most probably the sacrifice, that has gone into the preparation of this performance. It is utterly moving that someone would do this and share with us for our entertainment and enlightenment.

[@notaire2]

Wunderschöne und tiefempfundene Aufführung dieses perfekt komponierten Tastenwerks im gut analysierten Tempo mit durchsichtigen doch warmherzigen Tönen der histosch wertvollen Orgel und mit sorgfältig kontrollierter Dynamik. Die Fuge klingt echt schön und auch detailiiert. Wahrlich intelligenter und genialer Organist!

[@keesolthoff9217]

Dank voor deze prachtige uitvoering , gewoon genieten

[@buschiazzoantonino5917]

One of the best versions of this huge Prelude and fugue. Bravo maestro !!!

[@alleluiamichel]

Que c'est beau! Merci!

[@dustinlaferney3160]

Just beautiful. Thank you brother.

[@GO-kg6by]

What a joy to listen to, and watch. Truly magnificent!

[@ITMan_JJ]

In my mind this is THE best rendition of BWV 548 ever. A perfect performance all around. I always come back to this video as the de facto standard for 548. 🎹🎶❤

[@zacharybond23]

Agreed!

[@Lewis.Alcindor]

My favorite is Anton Heiller's version on his album.

[@aprilparkhouse4245]

Wow! Awesome! Thank you very much!

[@briscaba]

Unbelievably good! Very high quality, great performance!!! Thank you sooo much!!!

[@user-xk8oo5yi9s]

Величественно, как наша жизнь. Спасибо!

[@jesuisravi]

This is a great interpretation...it is easy to make a botch of this so all you get is a sound-mess. This man does it right.

[@ethyabrahamy-jf8dn]

Beautiful!

[@lubertusbrons4173]

Zo fantastisch gecomponeerd en gespeeld!! Hemels!!

[@DunaevskiAnton]

Magnificent! Grateful to the NBS for their work❤

[@tahaouhabi3520]

THE WEDGE! I've been waiting for ages to listen to NBS's interpretation of it and it turned out to be one of the best. THANK YOU NBS !

[@Artist_Aejoo]

Thank you for uploading the video ❤

[@p07a]

Thank you for posting the Wedge

[@francoisvaillancourt7309]

Great organ and registration , outstanding interpretation. One of my favorites.

[@user-yx3yx6xi2s]

Magnifique , beauté et grandeur !!!!

[@theMusicWellOrg]

Dank je wel. Excited to head back to Leeuwarden Grotekerk this Saturday to hear this precious instrument in person!

[@daviddovilla4486]

Wow! Words fail me. Never heard this until today. Awesome!

[@Musicienne-DAB1995]

Fantastic clarity in this recording! It has been a while since I have enjoyed an organ work by Johann Sebastian Bach. This was like a relaxing bath! Many thanks!

[@giampaorrigo]

Glorious!

[@janosturan7575]

So betaufiul peaces and play.. Gudratulation Master! .

[@jakubr4634]

My most favorite Bach’s prelude and fugue!

[@ausalmadebetur5981]

Nuestro padre Bach siempre sublime...

[@rbk2745]

Wonderful!👏👏👏

[@wuillymay8815]

Very good performance 🎶

[@WolfieNamira]

What this exists??? I didn't even know until I checked the website. Why is this masterpiece unlisted??

[@bach]

Correct. On our website you will find more published works. That’s because we only started this channel in 2018, while All of Bach has existed since 2014. Eventually, all works will also be published on KZbin.

[@timmy9796]

Amazing. Wish I found thie earlier !

[@keescanalfp5143]

And you are already eleven months earlier than we all ..!

[@user-de2yw7dk2e]

Браво 👏👏👏👏

[@Remi-B-Goode]

what a crazy theme/subject !

[@gloriamanso6052]

Maravilloso, estremecedor

[@orneant2015]

Merci Jean Sébastien Bach

[@mathildelagnier2454]

Infiniment merci

[@user-be8wr4jj1q]

Супер 👑 божественная музыка органная 😎 для души и сердца ❤❤❤😎 😍 🤩 😋 ❤❤❤

[@annefrancoisepolonini6982]

Cela me rappelle tant de choses

[@annefrancoisepolonini6982]

Great ! I appreciate the beautiful bound if I may say so sincère l'y enjoyed

[@flavioserci6046]

His majesty the 548!

[@jtdm5049]

How much light is there in that small room when you hear this prelude

[@unquietthoughts]

Finally!! Finfine!

[@HumbleNewMusic]

❣️❣️

[@andylange4805]

👏👏👏❤❤❤

[@vedqiibyol]

Would rarely ask for that, but now I really need to know! What's the registration?!!

[@tonysouter8095]

He's good.

[@user-be1ef5ul2g]

Controlled Germanic musical excellence. Marvellous!! One did expect a pedal trill at the recapitulation of the Fugal section A at the end of the Fugue; and much more articulation (being a mechanical action organ?). Nevertheless, brilliant performance. Thank you. 😃

[@terryberry5771]

Ihr macht das super! Schade, dass es sowas zu Beethoven (anscheinend) nicht gibt.

[@albertsiltal2600]

😊😊😊

[@Olga-wn4tf]

🌹🌺🌷🌹🌺🌷🌹🌺🌷

[@arshyadean8274]

😭😭😭😭😭

[@lililililll]

The tempo is surprisingly fast

[@alvarengasoso]

Bach would be ridiculous, if it were not first terrifying in the depths of what he found in his meditations. I speak as a casual, but perplexed listener… Yes, because who does not realize that Bach prayed more than he composed, or rather, composed himself to God more than he composed musical pieces -- this residual superabundance of his most intimate devotion. If there is musical sanctity, here is the angel among the choir of men.

[@prophetofwellbeing]

What was Bach thinking when he wrote that fugue?

[@arshyadean8274]

The Big Bad GOD!

[@taziocoin]

11:30

[@tamasszanto6521]

Weder Amfortassche Jammerei, noch zweiteilige Symphonie. Bach!

[@MarshallArtz007]

Bach’s greatest organ Prelude & Fugue, beautifully played. I prefer to hear the piece played with contrasting manual changes in the secondary chromatic sections of the Prelude and the toccata sections of the Fugue. The all-full-organ-all-the-time approach can be a little tiresome for the ears.

[@evanbemiole]

6:48 инвенция ре минор?

[@bach]

The piece is played in Baroque pitch A = 415 Hertz. That sounds lower if you are used to modern pitch A = 440 Hertz.

[@Heiandude-]

Song name?

[@arshyadean8274]

Lana Del Rey-Daddy's Wedge

[@BsktImp]

Does any of Bach's organ works include a trill in the pedal part?

[@evandejong355]

BWV 676, trio super Allein Gott... I'm sure there are several others as well. Some works of Bach's North German forerunners also feature pedal trills.

[@BsktImp]

@@evandejong355 Thanks!

[@eino145]

Bwv 538, at the end of the fugue

[@BsktImp]

@@eino145 Thanks!

[@dementedgamer0810]

Deleted Scenes Forgotten Dreams Part 2 Segment 4

[@sarafry5524]

I love it when Bach makes the organ growl!

[@didierducret285]

Very very nice play ... its absolutly perfect ... BUT !!!! What is that new wave from Netherlands by Gosselard first to SHAKING ALWAYS AND ALWAYS YOUR HEAD !!!!!! Why ???? your play is wonderfull but when i see the video it s make me nervous like on a boat on a bad see. Please be yourself. And once again ... TO HEAR it's perfect but to see ... mmmm why all those mouvement for make like others (what is horrible)) thank you for this great moment to hear and hope more strict in you head mouvement for next time please. (I see you many Times playing and those mouvements are new for you and not natural and absolutly not nice for you .... ) Be différent ... be yourself .... ans don't see other like gosselard you play much much much better

[@petershapiro4247]

what does this guy think he is doing? leading a military band? nothing to do with bach...nothing!

[@lorenzley1324]

A very sound and wonderful interpretation of this wonderful piece of music by Bach. I'm concert organist too, and I have another view about the way of playing this masterpiece of Bach but I like the soundness of his interpretation. It's a real and convincing Bach.