Firma Melodiya presents an album of organ music by J S Bach performed by the patriarch of Russian organists, Harry Grodberg.

The name of Harry Grodberg is dear to many generations of Russian listeners where Grodberg has become a symbol of organ art. After several decades of intensive concert activities (his first performance took place in 1955), Grodberg’s art still keeps its freshness, ingenuousness and virtuosic performing technique. His performances continue to delight listeners and leading music critics in Russia and Europe.

Harry Grodberg has initiated the building of dozens of concert organs in Russia and the former USSR and thus expanded the space for organ music in this country. His repertoire includes music of three centuries, while Bach’s works remain the major constant of the organist’s performances.

“I bow down before the Bach’s genius – his art of polyphony, mastery of rhythmic expression, wild creative imagination, inspired improvisation and precise calculation, a combination of the power of mind and the power of feelings in each work”, Grodberg said.

The album features seven chorale preludes, two monumental Toccatas and Fugues (BWV 564 and BWV566) and the organ Pastorale in F major (BWV 590), a chamber masterpiece in its way in organ music.

The recordings were made in the 1970–80s on the organs of the Big Hall of the Moscow Conservatory and the Big Hall of the St Petersburg (Leningrad) Philharmonic Society.