🎵 JS Bach - Toccata and Fugue in F Major BWV 540 | St Laurenskerk, Rotterdam

Toccata and Fugue in F major BWV 540 by JS Bach (1685-1750) played by Richard McVeigh on the organ of St Laurenskerk in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
This was played live during an organ recital on 31st October 2020.
This organ was sampled for Hauptwerk by Sonus Paradisi.
The gigantic Toccata couples a pedal toccata with a ritornello section in a ratio of 2:3. Very striking to the listener is the rhythm of the cadence figue, so much that it becomes a kind of mini-rondo. The same figure leads to one of the most startling interrupted cadences even in JS Bach's peerless repertory of them. Mendelssohn enthused over these cadences in a letter to his sister, and their repeated effect in the Toccata is without parallel, underlining amongst other things how necessary the final dominant pedal-point is to the movement's tonality.
The Fugue is a unique example of the 'alla breve' or ricercar fugue in which themes are separately exposed and then combined. It is Bach's only thorough-going double fugue, where two subjects are exposed in separate sections and then combined. The effect is enhanced by the increasing rhythmic activity of the second subject and by the more frequent use of modulation in the final section of the fugue.
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#jsbach #richardmcveigh #beautyinsound

[@charleshilston6643]

I am a very old man(92) who has loved organ music since attending my first concert in 1950! (It was Marcel Dupre.) So, I have heard alot of great organists and, Richard, you are one of them. Thanks you so much for all you do for us. It would be very lonely without your playing. (Charles Hilston, Madison, Wisconsin.)

[@bobbyhendley3084]

3 years later and still one of my favorite recordings of this glorious masterpiece! And I mean that sincerely. First time I ever heard it live was in St John the Divine in NYC on my honeymoon a little over 35 years ago. It was my first time to visit that part of the City while out and about walking and sightseeing. The organist just happened to drop in to practice for the next Sunday morning and this is what he led out with. I was gobsmacked! So of course I went up to introduce myself afterwards and behold the gorgeous console. Had a lovely chat and found him to be quite delightful. I’ve lost his name to time, but the piece and that reverb (!) have remained with me forever.

[@bobbyhendley3084]

I do particularly love how bright and alive this instrument is!

[@trevororme4646]

The magic fingers, toes and heels work their incredible magic again. What a great start to the day - for me - headphones on and tea & toast at the ready and JSB at its best. Richard, you too are the best. The playing, articulation and registration cannot be faulted. Thank you. Tx

[@jnmusic9969]

One of my favourite renditions of the piece

[@beautyinsound]

Thank you very much ☺️

[@dougalderdice6796]

Marvelous, perfectly executed! This is one of the first major Bach pieces I became aware of as a budding organist at the age of 11 or 12 via a Virgil Fox LP. Forty-some years later the major Bach works still remain outside my skill set but I never tire of hearing them, and this one especially transports me back to simpler times, listening to that VF LP.

[@dkeithtag]

I have that recording! Aeolian Skinner at Riverside.

[@mjmcb1]

Same here! And at about the same age. It was the record that made me determined to learn the pipe organ, much to the delight of my piano teacher, who was an ARCO. Virgil played it with very heavy pedal registration, and I've preferred it that way ever since.

[@charlesdavis7087]

I first heard this mighty work when I was 12 years old while standing in a record store in Moscow, Idaho. It changed the direction of my life. Fernando Germani was playing it and when I was 17 I got to hear him perform it live in College Place, Washington. Beautifully done Richard. Deepest heartfelt thanks!

[@bert-hassokemnitz8580]

What a peaceful musical moment, J.S.Bachs 540 gives us hope, spritual recreation and a grateful soul.Thanks Richard!

[@jerrymartin79]

A joyous piece for this Friday!! Thank you!!

[@PaulL66]

In Ohio helping my sister pack up to move. Needed a break and thought to listen to a replay of you performing the F Major. In case you've forgotten the other two times I commented, you NAILED this. Thank you for making available.

[@draconianTL]

This has brought back lovely memories of my grandfather playing this on his church’s pipe organ. I was always amazed by the footwork involved. A grand piece and wonderfully played. Thank you.

[@tedwilliams7021]

By far one of my favourite Bach pieces to play. It’s so much fun and you’ve done an amazing job mate! Splendid performance!!

[@shipsbells]

Thank You for posting this wonderful performance. You rarely hear the fugue performed. You did it magnificently!

[@robertfovargue636]

Master craftsman at work. Fantastic performance! Beautiful resonance by the way..

[@jv04jm]

Oh sooooo good! 👏 The registration, the musicianship, the video, the sound quality, everything, just fantastic!!! Oh, and the suit and tie too! 👌

[@beautyinsound]

Thank you :)

[@james.flores]

Fugue: 9:00

[@beautyinsound]

...and it's a belter - particularly the final pedal entry! 😎

[@samrose565]

Beautiful Playing!

[@carolynclark1724]

Beautiful!

[@daviddaly9232]

I like the way the different camera views are done.....very professional!!

[@laurenceeburn4969]

I absolutely love your performance of this piece. Thank you so much.

[@bobgardner3300]

One word about the first minute... "hooray"

[@richard1342]

A seriously difficult piece made to look so easy! Top man

[@nasibars4575]

Now this had so many fireworks 🎆🎆🎆 I couldn't see for many moments so high I got

[@765bigben]

Wow, Richard, this is a keeper!

[@terenceocallaghan5639]

Brilliantly played & awesome pedal work👍

[@debsg2024]

Muito lindo.Parabéns, organista!

[@susanwalker6502]

Alleluia - celebratory music for a day of celebrations

[@lordenoch0]

I will be perfectly honest. Strangely enough I like the 540 fugue more than the toccata and too often the former is performed without the latter so I commend you. Magnificent rendition.

[@ZL54JK8]

I completely agree. Some people actually say the Fugue is an inferior coupling with the Toccata, which seems so wrong to me. I think it probably helps the appreciation of the Fugue if you've learned to play it because you then get to know every detail. I consider it massive architecture in sound.

[@dkeithtag]

Cf Helmut Walcha St. Laurenskirk(sp?) Alkmaar. Well done my friend. On another note how can I run my ideas about a virtual instrument I am designing by you? Building it myself from scratch.

[@edwardhart5466]

Should have been hearing this tonight at Lincoln Cathedral ,unfortunately. Cancelled. due to lockdown

[@beautyinsound]

Played by who? Mr Walsh?

[@bert-hassokemnitz8580]

Lincoln Cathedral , BWV 540 J.SBach .Yo will hear it After the Lockdown is lifted. I envy You for this.

[@bert-hassokemnitz8580]

I have Never Seen a More impressive and Beautiful Cathedral and mighty organ in my Life.

[@adolfopalaciosgonzalez9398]

Too much resonance, as I have observed lately in some other tunes, like the Passacaglia.

[@beautyinsound]

That's a really odd comment to make. Do you walk into a resonant church and throw your hands up in horror before declaring there is "too much resonance" before walking out? This is how the organ in St Laurenskerk sounds (unless you're sat in the swell box which I highly doubt the majority of people would want to do) and I am very happy with the sound.

[@adolfopalaciosgonzalez9398]

@@beautyinsound Don't you know any organist who is unhappy with the resonance of the organ he plays? I do know some. But all resonances are not the same. In the catedral of Valladolid, we have 8 seconds of resonance; and yet the music is understood.

[@oaktadopbok665]

"Go sit in the swell box" will hanceforth be my go to direction for acoustical malcontents.