This is a very fine improvisation. It starts with a clear statement and vision of its character and genre - i.e. a thrilling toccata; clear and varied in structure with a very effective development of the theme through modulation and rhythmic manipulation - e.g. in augmented and segmented form. There is strong sense of purpose towards a goal but with plenty of light and shade in between. Ruben Sturm has generally a very good grip of the toccata figuration and indeed of pulse, metrical structure, and architecture as a whole. There is genuine harmonic development, rather than just a series of splashy note clusters, as is so often the case in improvisations. The ending is just possibly elongated a little too much, but no doubt many feel it to be perfectly judged. It is perhaps a shame that the recording was curtailed before the end of the echo and the applause - surely this should almost part of the piece like this! The tuning of the organ does leave a bit to be desired and I wonder too if the wind supply is quite up to what is being asked of it! Otherwise, a recorded improvisation that stands well above so many.
Cleaning the dust off those screaming pipes....beautiful!
Fantastic! Bravo. An Eighth Wonder in the World of Music.
wunderbare Improvisation!!!
Excellent
Einfach nur genial!!
Super!
Ausgezeichnet!!
This is a very fine improvisation. It starts with a clear statement and vision of its character and genre - i.e. a thrilling toccata; clear and varied in structure with a very effective development of the theme through modulation and rhythmic manipulation - e.g. in augmented and segmented form. There is strong sense of purpose towards a goal but with plenty of light and shade in between. Ruben Sturm has generally a very good grip of the toccata figuration and indeed of pulse, metrical structure, and architecture as a whole. There is genuine harmonic development, rather than just a series of splashy note clusters, as is so often the case in improvisations. The ending is just possibly elongated a little too much, but no doubt many feel it to be perfectly judged. It is perhaps a shame that the recording was curtailed before the end of the echo and the applause - surely this should almost part of the piece like this! The tuning of the organ does leave a bit to be desired and I wonder too if the wind supply is quite up to what is being asked of it! Otherwise, a recorded improvisation that stands well above so many.
I have to agree. That's correct Finale a little bit too long.
Wunderbar!
Hört sich an wie in Notre Damm!