Cameron Carpenter: Bach Toccata and Fugue in D minor BWV 565

Live concert on August 6th, 2016 in Nuremberg (Nürnberg, Germany) at the Klassik Open Air festival.

[MrRuplenas]

I heard him yesterday at a Boston Symphony Orchestra concert playing the Barber Tocatta Festiva and a Terry Riley piece. His virtuosity is unquestioned and he is clearly a showman. As far as this performance of the Bach, one could say any number of things. But who can doubt his personal involvement in the music. And as far as his musical choices, isn't it a great thing that he can make us think about this music again, and just why we love it? He is provocative, no doubt, and that is a good thing. More power to him.

[debbielecher]

Someone this talented is bound to be misunderstood and criticized for being unconventional. He’s brilliant!

[wsking]

I agree with everyone that Mr. Carpenter is knowledgable and very skilled. And I agree that there are few like him at the present time. However, as I just discovered him last night and have listened to several videos of his playing. my overall impression is that classsical organ music is not an excuse to take violent, quick, sharp jabs at our ears. Knowledge and skill are tempered by an understanding of timing, duration, and restraint. The faster you play any instrument as complicated as an organ, or, for that matter, any music, is not the better. Your finesse and knowledge of how are not well demonstrated by a very violent approach to the what, the music. Your expertise is best demonstrated by the fierce tenderness and smoothness of a good lover who knows how to lovingly caress, linger when sensitivity bids it, or up the tempo at the proper time. Listening to Mr. Carpenter playing is like watching a hurried butcher chopping meat as fast as he can. Its really too bad. Virility is shown in a happy Rennaisance combination of many well- developed qualities, not just one. All I can say is, I was so glad when he stopped! I felt like a punching bag! Just cool it, and try to concentrate on what the music wants, not the physicality of playiing the instrument. Like a river, pools and rapids intersperse. Its not all rapids! Let the music show how it wants to move. Playing too fast does not give bliss and satisfaction. There is no melody in a barage of fierce noise that destroys the composer's intent. Nevertheless, he is an amazing artist. Just a few tweaks are in order. He knows what I mean. IMHO.

[cornwalldragon]

Haters are going to hate. Virgil Fox was big on the heavy organ and Cameron Carpenter is big on the digital organ. Both are showmen in their own right. Virgil was the first to have a touring organ so that he can provide organ music to venues that couldn't provide an organ. Cameron is following in his footsteps.

[ItalanFindart]

To ALL great super master musicians here, only one question: can you compare Caravaggio with Jackson Pollock? Carpenter is a musician of 21st Century and even if his interpetation in discutible, he his a Contemporary Musician. He uses the instruments and the ideas of the 21st Century. Be open with your mind! Listen to him without comparing him with someone else that lived 400 or 500 years ago. He is an expression of our time and his interpretation of course is completely different.

[christianblaha]

outstanding musician, great original interpretation (like Stokowsky's orchestration), figuration, and articulation!
thank you.

[ullinator]

Unglaublich, mit welcher Virtuosität der Mann vorträgt.
Auch die Auswahl der Registratur ist einfach Spitze.
Ich verstehe wirklich nicht, wie man für diese so brilliant und meisterhaft gespielte Interpretation so viele Dislikes bekommen kann.

[deborahstabelfeldt-brooks]

He definitely Cameronized this Bach piece but that is why we are fascinated and love to hear and see him perform!

[Wallerschreck]

Eine eigenwillige Intepretation! Es ist mir persönlich zu entfremdet. Im Orginal wirrkt es einfach stimmiger! Stellenweise hört es sich an wie Zirkusmusik.

[steve]

Just listened again today: Cameron has been maturing. His more recent performances are relying more on musicianship and less on gimmickry. I also noticed the couple exiting mid-performance.

Decades ago, I heard Tom Hazelton play this piece. It was even more "theatrical".

[andrewlanders]

Not for the purists. But I think Bach would appreciate that his music is still being celebrated more than 250 years after his death.

[ipecaquana]

Grandissimo, mi piace questa interpretazione . Geniale, bravissimo e provocatorio . Dd

[waihoong]

Excellent technique! But it's sounding like Nintendo game console.

[colinhazell]

I don't know what Bach would have thought!

[JHelak]

I can't believe some of the negative comments. Sounds thin? Well how was this recorded - outdoors and probably on a cell phone. Lost tempo? That's called playing with you soul. I could go on.

[Engineer]

That extra little melody during the ending chords is a great invention of him :D Nice recording!

[ML-fgno]

beautiful interpretation of this stupendous work of bach

[reinerneugebauer]

There are many organists who play the Toccata and Fugue in D minor.
But only Cameron Carpenter brings the masterpiece to life. Bach would enjoy it. 🙂🙏❤

[MrJHT]

JSB would want people to add creativity into the organ world, as he did. It's good that someone is being innovative with this piece, and in fact, this is my personal favorite version of toccata and fugue for that reason. Anyone can have an opinion, but there's no fact to anything with music.

[markhall]

I think he succeeded in using every last damn stop in that thing- classic, theater, percussion and all. To no worthy effect except to make a complete mockery of this great Bach work.