J.S. Bach: Toccatas, BWV 910-916 Masaaki Suzuki

• Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750): Toccata in G Minor, BWV 915:
• 1 Toccata in G Minor, BWV 915: Adagio 01:14
• 2 Toccata in G Minor, BWV 915: Allegro - Adagio 03:40
• 3 Toccata in G Minor, BWV 915: Fuga 04:48
• Toccata in D Minor, BWV 913 (Second Version):
• 4 Toccata in D Minor, BWV 913 (Second Version): Toccata 02:21
• 5 Toccata in D Minor, BWV 913 (Second Version): Fuga 03:24
• 6 Toccata in D Minor, BWV 913 (Second Version): Adagio 02:37
• 7 Toccata in D Minor, BWV 913 (Second Version): Allegro 04:07
• Toccata in G Major, BWV 916:
• 8 Toccata in G Major, BWV 916: Toccata 02:11
• 9 Toccata in G Major, BWV 916: Adagio 02:51
• 10 Toccata in G Major, BWV 916: Allegro e presto 02:53
• Toccata in C Minor, BWV 911:
• 11 Toccata in C Minor, BWV 911: Toccata - Adagio 02:59
• 12 Toccata in C Minor, BWV 911: Allegro 07:02
• Toccata in E Minor, BWV 914:
• 13 Toccata in E Minor, BWV 914: Toccata - Un poco allegro 01:59
• 14 Toccata in E Minor, BWV 914: Adagio 01:53
• 15 Toccata in E Minor, BWV 914: Fuga á 3 03:06
• Toccata in D Major, BWV 912 (Second Version):
• 16 Toccata in D Major, BWV 912 (Second Version): Toccata - Allegro 02:45
• 17 Toccata in D Major, BWV 912 (Second Version): Adagio 05:11
• 18 Toccata in D Major, BWV 912 (Second Version): Fuga 02:54
• Toccata in F-Sharp Minor, BWV 910:
• 19 Toccata in F-Sharp Minor, BWV 910: Toccata 02:33
• 20 Toccata in F-Sharp Minor, BWV 910: Presto e staccato 02:30
• 21 Toccata in F-Sharp Minor, BWV 910: Tocatta 02:15
• 22 Toccata in F-Sharp Minor, BWV 910: Fuga 02:18
• Total Runtime 01:07:31

Info for J.S. Bach: Toccatas, BWV 910-916

Very little is known about the origin of J. S. Bach’s seven Toccatas (BWV?910–916) or of their use. They are believed to have been written before 1717 or the end of Bach’s Weimar period – but it is quite possible that at least some of them were drafted before he arrived there in 1707, at the age of 22. The Toccatas are usually performed on harpsichord or piano – but even though they are ‘manualiter’ (intended to be played by the hands only) and do not call for pedal parts, they are also occasionally heard on the organ. In terms of style they are examples of the so-called stylus phantasticus – ‘the most free and unfettered method of composition’ – and belong to the North German organ tradition of the late 17th century. Each piece consists of several distinct and contrasting sections, interweaving strict counterpoint and fugal passages with freely rhapsodic material, and as such the toccatas differ from the two-movement prelude-and-fugue format which Bach later would put his own, indelible stamp on. With this disc, Masaaki Suzuki takes on some of the earliest of Bach’s extant harpsichord compositions, after having released acclaimed recordings of a wide range of later works, from the two-part Inventions to the two books of the Well-Tempered Clavier. However, he also brings his experience in performing the music of Bach’s North German predecessors to bear, for instance Buxtehude (BIS-1809) and Nicolaus Bruhns.

Masaaki Suzuki, harpsichord

Masaaki Suzuki
Since founding Bach Collegium Japan in 1990, Masaaki Suzuki has established himself as a leading authority on the works of Bach. He has remained the music director of the BCJ ever since, taking it regularly to major venues and festivals in Europe and the USA. In addition to working with renowned period ensembles, including the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Philharmonia Baroque, he conducts orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in repertoire ranging from Mendelssohn to Stravinsky. Suzuki’s impressive

discography on the BIS label, featuring Bach’s choral works as well as harpsichord and organ recitals, has brought him many critical plaudits – The Times (UK) has written: ‘it would take an iron bar not to be moved by his crispness, sobriety and spiritual vigour’. With the BCJ he is now extending the ensemble’s repertoire with recordings of Mozart’s Requiem and Mass in C minor and Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis.

Born in Kobe, Masaaki Suzuki graduated from the Tokyo University of Fine Arts and Music and went on to study harpsichord and organ at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam under Ton Koopman and Piet Kee. Founder and professor emeritus of the early music department at the Tokyo University of the Arts, he was on the faculty at the Yale School of Music and Yale Institute of Sacred Music from 2009 until 2013, and remains affiliated as the principal guest conductor of Yale Schola Cantorum.

Booklet for J.S. Bach: Toccatas, BWV 910-916