André Marchal, organ recordings 1936 - 1956 André Marchal First Recordings 1936, 1948 Buxtehude: The 1956 Zodiac Recordings Bach: Orgelbuchlein, BWV 603-12, 614-15:
Arbiter has restored and published the recordings of the legendary blind organist André Marchal (Paris 1936/1948 & 1956), whose London recitals I attended in my youth. Marchal was an innovator who rejected the heaviness of 19th century interpretation to clarify Baroque polyphony and he was an important forerunner of the contemporary interest in early organs. These two CDs deserve the interest of all organists and organ enthusiasts. It takes only half-a-minute's listening to accustom yourself to the background, which Arbiter does not seek to eliminate with inevitable distortion of true sound quality. The sound quality is, to my ears, fine and Arbiter's documentation is, as always, comprehensive and full of interest. This note is to direct you urgently to the website of one of the most valuable of independent record labels, run - almost single handedly, I guess - by Allan Evans. Subscribing to a freedom of information policy, his website gives easy access to all the liner notes, plus listening samples, so all you need to do is to click and enter a whole new world, perhaps? See also my reviews of Arbiter's Busoni and Pachmann releases
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