Selections from JS Bach ClavierUbung III by Janine Johnson Janine Johnson : Selections from JS Bach ClavierUbung III.
 Harpsichord and fortepiano classics.

One of my favorite works for organ is the great Praeludium in E flat from Bach's Clavier Übung III, which is usually followed in recital by the Fugue in E flat, called "St. Anne's", though in Johann Sebastian Bach's manuscript the two are separated by the entire remainder of the work, 27 pieces in all. As a harpsichordist, the temptation was too great to not adapt these and other works to my own instrument. The Praeludium especially reminds me of the French Ouverture in ClavierÜbung II and the Ouverture of Partita #4 in ClavierÜbung I, both harpsichord works. I also have a great fondness for Bach's Chorale Preludes, as well as his Fugues. ClavierÜbung III being organ music, often has pedal parts, though much is also for manuals alone, including the Duetti which are often performed on the harpsichord.

I chose for this album pieces that both touch me musically and are playable on the harpsichord. Those with pedal parts sometimes required octave transpositions but mostly demanded I get my not so large hands to stretch more than usual. These large reaches were in part facilitated by the keyboard of the Gräbner harpsichord with it's narrow key span. The piece in this set that required the most rewriting was "Vater unser im Himelreich" (two manuals + pedal), but being one of the most complex and moving of the entire book, I could not leave it out.

For this album I worked from the facsimile of the original publication (1739) and found some of the text to be different from "corrected" modern versions. Of particular note is the hair raising cross relations in the "Fuga super Jesus Christus unser Heiland ". Bach is very specific in his notation and in order to retain an extensive canonic imitation between the bass and alto there can be no other option than what he has written (this section appears in the backdrop on the album cover). The other unfortunate "correction" is in Duetto IV. To my ear Bach's sometimes strange harmony is part of what makes his music so fascinating. I also love some of his allusions to the texts of the Chorales he has chosen to set, such as the great flowing river in "Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam".

The harpsichord, built in 2008 by John Phillips, Berkeley, is modeled after the 1722 Johann Heinrich Gräbner preserved in the Villa Bertramka in Prague; the earliest of four surviving Gräbner harpsichords. Although now much modified, it is a very good example of the large middle German harpsichord with which Bach would have been intimately familiar. It is even likely that Bach knew J. H. Gräbner, as the latter held the position of official tuner at the Electoral Saxon court in Dresden. One of Gräbner's sons, Christian Heinrich, studied organ with Bach in Leipzig. Typical of the largest German instruments of the 1720s; it has a range of FF-d3, two manuals with a sliding coupler, and a registration of two unisons and an octave. Special thanks to the owner for the use of this harpsichord and to John Phillips for his assistance, and allowing me the use of his shop for recording.

Songs:

1. Praeludium pro Organo pleno BWV 552(1) - Johann Sebastian Bach
2. Prelude and Fugue for organ in E flat major (St Anne's) BWV 552(2) - Johann Sebastian Bach
3. Kyrie Gott Vater in Ewigkeit (I) chorale prelude for organ BWV 669 - Johann Sebastian Bach
4. Kyrie Gott heiliger Geist (II) chorale prelude for organ BWV 674 - Johann Sebastian Bach
5. Duetto for keyboard No4 in A minor BWV 805 - Johann Sebastian Bach
6. Allein Gott in der Hoh sei Ehr (V) chorale prelude for organ BWV 675 - Johann Sebastian Bach
7. Fuga super Jesus Christus unser Heiland fugue for organ BWV 689 - Johann Sebastian Bach
8. Duetto for keyboard No2 in F major BWV 803 - Johann Sebastian Bach
9. Vater unser im Himmelreich (III) chorale prelude for organ BWV 683 - Johann Sebastian Bach
10. Kyrie Gott heiliger Geist (I) chorale prelude for organ BWV 671 - Johann Sebastian Bach
11. Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam (I) chorale prelude for organ BWV 684 - Johann Sebastian Bach
12. Duetto for keyboard No3 in G major BWV 804 - Johann Sebastian Bach
13. Dies sind die heilgen zehn Gebot (II) chorale prelude for organ BWV 678 - Johann Sebastian Bach
14. Fughetta super Dies sind die heilgen zehn Gebot for organ BWV 679 - Johann Sebastian Bach
15. Kyrie Gott Vater in Ewigkeit (II) chorale prelude for organ BWV 672 - Johann Sebastian Bach
16. Duetto for keyboard No1 in E minor BWV 802 - Johann Sebastian Bach
17. Fughetta super Wir glauben all an einen Gott for organ BWV 681 - Johann Sebastian Bach
18. Vater unser im Himmelreich (II) chorale prelude for organ BWV 682 - Johann Sebastian Bach

Listen to: the entire album.

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Release date: 7/28/2012
Janine Johnson lives in California USA

Tagged as: Classical, Baroque, Instrumental, Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach, Harpsichord

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