Johann Sebastian Bach:|Trio sonatas for organ

The fine art of playing the exemplary organs of Bach’s time: Ullrich Böhme, the custodian of the organs at Bach’s long-time working place St Thomas in Leipzig, has recorded a new CD of the trio sonatas for organ. This recording meets the challenge of carving out the delicate qualities of the six sonatas by virtue of the tonal possibilities of outstanding period instruments, and undoubtedly serves as a reference in several ways. As his position suggests, Böhme directly refers to the 1730 autograph of the six sonatas and presents a relaxed and transparent rendition of the source – with the serenity of a l”art-pour-l”art work as well as the vitality and enthusiasm of a performer capable of translating this wonderful collection into play and sound. To this end Böhme chose some exquisite instruments mostly from Central Germany, some of which were built in Bach’s direct vicinity. The organ of St Wenceslas in Naumburg, completed by Zacharias Hildebrandt in 1746, is probably closest to Bach’s tonal preferences.