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Torvald Torén - organ

This album is in a series of unique material by the famous late organist Torvald Torén, who plays organ works by Johann Sebastian Bach on the historical Cahman organ of Leufsta bruk, Sweden. Recorded on September 9 & 10, 1975. The Organ of Leufsta Bruk Church, Sweden with its 28 stops, is the largest surviving Baroque instrument in Sweden. It was built between 1726 and 1728 by Johan Niclas Cahman (c. 1680-1737), the most eminent organ builder in Sweden at that time. Miraculously, it has been spared drastic alterations over the years and remains virtually in its pristine state.

The Prelude and Fugue in C major (BWV 547) is from the composer's Leipzig period. The prelude has a festive and reserved mood, and the thematic material is based on a rhythmic ascending scale and returns with a fanfare-like motive. The fugue theme is presented fifty times in various forms.

The Prelude and Fugue in A minor (BWV 543) is one of Bach's renowned organ works. While the prelude starts with a unison descending line and continues with faster passages, the fugue has a particularly violinistic theme with a clear and airy structure.

Toccata and Fugue in D minor (BWV 565) is probably the most famous organ work by Johann Sebastian Bach, which is evidenced by the numerous transcriptions of the toccata. This is a work of youth, combining virtuosity, drama and imagination in a unified entirety.

The three organ chorales are from the Eighteen Leipzig Chorales. The melody is reinstated in the richly ornamented "Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland" (BWV 659), while "Von Gott will ich nicht lassen" (BWV 658) presents augmented values in a middle part. The strong "Komm, Gott, Schöpfer, Heiliger Geist" (BWV 667) presents the melody in the soprano, and repeats it in augmentation in the pedal.

Trio Sonata no 1 in E flat major (BWV 525) is the first one of Bach's six trio sonatas. He originally wrote these sonatas as exercises for his son, Wilhelm Friedemann. They could be categorized as organ chamber music due to their light character, but simultaneously they present challenges as etudes.

Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C major (BWV 564) is also one of Bach's major organ works. It is original in terms of the fact that the composer presents a bridge in the Toccata, between the movements Prelude and Fantasia. The adagio could have been an orchestral work with a solo instrument. The fugue is one of the most capricious creation of the genre: lots of joy and elegance in lieu of introversion and contrapuntal techniques.