Toccata and Fuge d-moll

Toccata and Fuge d-moll (BWV 565 is the most popular of Bach’s extended organ works due largely to the various orchestrations of it. It belongs to the period around 1707, just before Bach’s move to Weimar. His earlier works had been derivative of the North German style of Buxtehude, often containing long, rambling fugue subjects and highly florid preludes. In the Weimar period his style became much tighter and more refined. The Toccata and Fugue in D minor comes between these two extremes. Its Toccata is grand and expansive but well organised and the Fugue, based on a short subject is in a relatively straightforward form, subjects, answers and episodes, while retaining the exuberance of the early style. Performance notes: First trumpet will probably require a small trumpet. Play always in a very light style, keeping the semiquaver movement slick but not too pecky. Observe a careful balance in chordal build-ups in the Toccata. Time the rubatos carefully in order to get a feel of controlled improvisation. In the lines that are shared between instruments, strive to get a feeling of continuity as if the notes are being carefully passed from hand to hand.)