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Following the recent uploads of Liszt and Reger homages to Bach, here's a much more gentle approach. Schumann began his homage to Bach - Six Fugues on the name of BACH - shortly he took possession of his pedal-piano. Anyone interested to know more about these instruments may like to read: The third fugue is a very introspective, reflective and cool meditation: Schumann marked it simply 'With soft stops'. Despite the apparent ease of the piece, and economy of its gesture, there is always intensity underneath as always with Schumann. The way an organist physically plays the notes in music - their 'touch' and agogic perception - is surely more important than the actual stops (especially if these are chosen simply by name and not by ear), and many chose to play simple (at least on the surface) pieces as this without even the consideration of changing, adding or subtracting stops - and that's fine in many circumstances... However, in this performance - part of a recital I gave in All Saints, Marlow, on April 8, 2010 - I tried to create something different by subtle use of stops to create more of an 'arch of intensity' as one would on a piano: from its quiet creep in, the music forms a slow arch of intensity to the centre from which it recedes to nothing at the end......... So this was my aim, and attempt, to enhance the notes themselves with colour - particularly as I found the actually sounds of this particular organ rather deadpan and not easy to make sing... The Six Fugues are quite magnificent - and shortly I'll upload a complete performance done elsewhere.
