Bach-Busoni - Toccata and Fugue in D minor (piano solo version)

The Tausig transcription of Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor (BWV 565) is well known and sometimes still performed, but the Busoni version over time has proved more popular. According to Hugo Leichtentritt, Busoni's "building of the climaxes is more monumental, in simple lines, more thoughtful and much more effective than Tausig's somewhat arbitrary rise and fall...." Moreover, Busoni carefully avoids arpeggios, a technique used on piano, but not on organ. As the composer and musicologist Larry Sitsky says, "his whole method of doubling, registration (octave placement on the keyboard), pedal, and pianistic distribution is superior to Tausig's."

(Wikipedia)

Please take note that the audio AND the sheet music ARE NOT mine. Change the quality to 480p if the video is blurry.

Original audio:
Alexander Gavrylyuk

[brioche]

This piece fascinate me, in every aspect, since I first listened to it in live on my city's cathedral. It was totally memorable, I still remember that I had chills listening to it.
Fun fact is that specialists don't even know exactly if Bach composed this or not. The oldest manuscrit of this composition ever found is from Johannes Ringk who is believed to have copied the original from Kellner's collection, who was indeed a pupil of Bach. Some claims that there are incompatibilities with Bach style and they also claims that in its first measure (of this piece) the composition contains a C♯, a note organs in Bach's time apparently rarely had, and which Bach almost never used in his organ compositions.

Last suggestion is that this piece may have been originally composed for violin and so that the organ one is a transcription from neither Kellner, Ringk, or even maybe Bach himself... How ironic isn't it ? Though I do not believe it since Toccata isn't really a proper form for violin as far as I know.

Bach or not, this is this piece that led me to listen to baroque music, and since I became an amateur of Bach's music, I've heard a lot of pieces from him and his contemporary. To me there is no doubt that Bach left his mark on this piece.

[johnclementhusain]

well, this music is widely misinterpreted for being a horror music, in fact, this music shows the humorous side of J.S.Bach however, thanks to hollywood, whenever we here the toccata, we think of horror directly

[mattbod]

Forget the purists I am sure Bach is looking down in approval. He was a prolific arranger of both his and other peoples (Ernst, Vivaldi etc) for alternative instruments.

[reglementme]

Each composer / performer / arranger has his / her own view and feel (read knowledge and experience) in composing / interpreting / arranging music. In my humble opinion, any attempt to touch me in my soul is worth being absorbed. What's "good" or "bad" is different every time, so every attempt is essentially good.

[Kalen]

Magnificent work.
I'm actually a pedagogical descendant of Busoni, all but one of my main teachers studied with his one of his students students.

[jjmcoupebmw]

Even with my large hands, from C to F the octave above with ease, this is still a pain in the ass to play. But what a pleasure to play even with the inevitable mistakes. J.S. Bach is simple the greatest there has ever been.
After reading some of the comments I realize I've been playing piano for 38 years and graduated my music degree over 20 years Mid 40s now and it sounds like such a long time, but with works like this every minute has been a pleasure.

Thanks for posting this!

[jonaskatona]

Why are musicians and musicologists frequently so disapproving and critical of anything coming from Tausig? I mean, I know that Busoni's arrangement is far superior over Tausig's, but one has to realize that Tausig wrote this arrangement at a relatively young age and also died at a very young age. Plus, he has written many other works which demonstrate much maturity and craft, or at least among most composers his age. One mediocre arrangement should not characterize his entire oeuvre and compositional skills.

[Micycle]

I LOVE THIS TRANSCRIPTION!! Except it's probably way too tough for

[adalbertogomesdossantos]

Realmente é monumental essa transcrição de Busoni pra piano! Quando se fala em órgão essa música é a primeira que vem na mente das pessoas dada sua beleza e performance. É dificil imaginar uma transcrição melhor que essa .Há quem diga que a de Tausig seja igual ou melhor!Aí vai do discernimento de cada crítico. Parabéns ao pianista! A minha impressão é que e mais dificil interpretar essa transcrição ao piano do que executa-la ao órgão, pelo menos pra mim que sou mais organista do que pianista.

[鄭睦融-zz]

Bach's Fugue always merge with holy and evil emotions, and always drives people to search for the meaning of music deeply and frenetically.

[АленаАлифанова-шг]

Очень впечатляюще! Это моё любимое сочинение Баха. Звучит не хуже, чем на органе.

[WaterlooExpat]

From 7:55 to 7:57 of this video, the words, "*He missed something???" appear on the screen. Help me out. Did Busoni miss something or the pianist? In which bar did "he" miss something?

[liquidmotion]

Bach captured the entire personality of any key

[donnytello]

it’s not talked about enough just how complex this piece of music is. this not only looks hard, but when you attempt if, start praying

[fuzfckz]

Reasons why this piece might NOT be composed by JS Bach:
- 2nd Fugue subject (2nd voice) is introduced in g minor (the 4th of d minor), instead of the 5th (a minor) like in pretty much every other fugue by Bach
- unusual amount of weird tempo changes
- fugue subject has violinistic elements
- toccata is (compared to other bach toccatas) way too "easy" and simple (see very early but difficult organ works by Bach like BWV 538, 532, 564)

Reasons why this piece might be composed by JS Bach:
- ends in a minor chord (d minor), something very unusual for organ works of the baroque era, but also something Bach had the balls to do a lot of times
- counterpoint
- his students had copies of this piece
- reminds a lot of Buxtehude's style (which had a huge impact on Bach's early organ works)

[ulisescenturion]

la mejor adaptación al piano. supera ampliamente a la de tausing

[ketereissmore]

Haven't played the piano for 11 yrs, and now I'm self-learning THIS song.What am I even doing?

[مهدیمرادی-جج]

it was so inspiring listening to this piece thanks

[charlesthomas]

0:14: Adagio

(Idk where to put the rest i cant read sheet music please help me)

[richardgauthier]

3:52 to 4:05 I’ve never heard the left hand play anything but quarter and half note chords. This must be Busoni? Interesting.