Bach: Organ works - Francis Monkman
The ex-Sky keyboardist offers a range of material that highlights Bach's genius.
Composer: Bach
Repertoire: Miscellaneous Organ Works
Artists: Francis Monkman
Rating: 3/5
Genre: Instrumental
Label: Crocodile Records CR 0007
The former keyboard player of Sky returns to his classical roots in this recital played on the newly restored organ of Schlöben (near Jena). The programme is an odd-ball mix of choral preludes, extracts from the Clavierübung Bk.3 (few of them well known) and the famous Toccata and Fugue in D minor. Monkman’s tempi are cautious (for example the Fugue in G, BWV541) and I would have preferred more contrast among the bright tonal colours that dominate his registrations. But the two generously filled discs are well-played and recorded and offer an unusually wide ranging view of Bach’s genius.
