Bach - Prelude and fugue in G major BWV 550 - Havinga | Netherlands Bach Society

In early sources the opening of the Prelude and fugue in G major, performed by Matthias Havinga for All of Bach, is described as a “praeludio in G-dur con pedal". There is nothing unusual about the use of pedals (the ‘keys’ of the organ operated by the feet) in an organ piece in Bach’s day. But twelve bars into the piece you hear a long, lively pedal solo, which not only requires more than a second-rate village organist, but also more than a second-rate village organ. The range of the solo covers more than two octaves, which was definitely not the norm at the time!

This recording was made with support of the Miller Family Charitable Foundation.

Matthias Havinga, organist
Organ: Christian Müller, 1738

[ttwiligh]

Bach is the happiest person in the entire universe when he wants to be.

[GoldinDr]

I'm Havinga good time listening to this performance.

[ketanfernandes]

I find this one of the most underrated fugues that Bach has written.

[TomCloyd]

Everything about this performance makes me want to stand up and shout. The organ is just perfect, and utterly glorious on its own. The organist is expressive, articulate, and energetic. He made the sun to rise! We can ask no more. Thank you.

[andrewsappel]

What is there in the world more joyful and filled with health than Bach in G major!!! Gosh Havinga really knows how to make sun shine in this music. I am a fan!

[g.k.failla]

What does a fine organist do when faced with such magnificent music and a great instrument? He wallows in it with total absorption. From Chicago, U.S.A.

[Petergoforth]

This was the postlude at St. Paul's Parish in Cambridge, MA. Today. It made a lot of worshippers stop and listen. I'd never heard this one before. It is indeed beautiful.

[donnaterkildsen]

so few people sitting there in that lovely church....I would have loved to experience this live....thank you for this joyful performance....love it!

[TheNautiluss]

It's a shame to see the church almost empty when such great music is played, by the hands of a young and passionate musician. I can't really understand how most of the new generations are attracted, if we can say so, to modern music when it's nothing but noise. Truly there are contemporary composers blessed by natural talent, but they are such because their music borns like "the stream out of the mountain", with no particular meaning or message; it's kind of an unstoppable need, like pure energy that only wants to come out and spread. Nevertheless, even if the club of devoted lovers of the old melodies is now reducing, this music will always be eternal indeed. Thank you so much and thank you my dear fat bastard from Eisenach, always in my heart !

[bertoldprengel]

Erstklassige Aaufnahme an dieser riesigen Orgel in St. Bavo, Harlem. Erstklassiger Organist! Danke Prof. Havinga! Bertold Prengel, Orgelbaumeister

[fireplace]

Impeccable playing!! Every voice is so well balanced and clear in the fugue. It seems that every note is carefully articulated.

[JimFalboguitar]

Outstanding performance of one of Bach's most uplifting pieces

[KoxxMobilhome]

En ook dank aan de jonge dame die altijd op het juiste moment het blad omdraait en aan de knoppen trekt, zonder dat was het niet in orde gekomen!!!

[late]

This really made me smile, what a triumphant piece and a most wonderful interpretation! I can just imagine what it sounded like in the church...

[peteacher]

A difficult task looks easy in the hands of a master - a master organist playing the famous and majestic organ of Haarlem's Grote Kerk ... what more could we want unless Klaas Bolt and Piet Kee could be resurrected?!

[marshallkrug]

I would love to meet this man and tell him, in person, how much I admire him. He is such a great interpretor of J. S. Bach on the organ, it is truly astonishing! Love, love, love this guy!

[slukas]

Bravo. A jubilant, spirited performance. Those lucky few people in the congregation experienced a real treat.

[GamingRevenant]

For some reason there are still pieces within Bach's organ works I have never heard before. Yet again I have already played the G major prelude and fugue (BWV 541), as well as the G major concerto from Bach's transcriptions. Incredible find, amazing interpretation, and definitly going to try it in the near future 😮 Thanks for another fabulous video!

[brownmullins]

Bravo. To God be the Glory, Great things He has done. God bless you Meistro for your selflessness. You play like silk. Thank God for your example.

[melvillehayes]

You are most deserving of your own album of your own playing Bach exclusitively !