Piet Kee - Piet Kee plays Bach, Vol.3 (1992)

Piet Kee seems to have recorded two recitals for Chandos in two different locations at the same time.

His first, a splendid presentation of the organ of St. Laurens (Grote Kerk), Alkmaar, with works by Buxtehude (BuxWV 153, 192, 223 and the famous “Passacaglia” BWV 161) and Johann Sebastian Bach (Prelude and Fugue in E minor BWV 533, seven chorale preludes from the “Orgelbüchlein” BWV 618, 619a+b, 623, 624, 625, 626, 628a+b, the chorale prelude “Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier” BWV 731 and, lastly, the Prelude and Fugue in C minor BWV 546) is dated 14-17 November 1988 and was published as Chandos 0501.

This second recital (Chandos 0506), presenting, if anything even more splendidly, the glorious sound of the Müller organ (built between 1735 and 1738) at the St. Bavo Church in Haarlem, where Piet Kee is “city organist” – the organ is considered the property of the city rather than of the church in which it is situated -, is dated 14-15 November 1988. It is, therefore, hardly surprising that he here plays a further selection from Bach’s “Orgelbüchlein” (BWV 614, 633, 636, 637, 639, 640, 641 and 642). These eight short chorale preludes are placed between the Fantasia and Fugue in G minor (BWV 542, believed to have been composed in 1720) and the early Prelude and Fugue in C major (BWV 531). The recital is rounded off by Bach’s second chorale prelude on “Allein Gott in der Höh’ sei Ehr” (BWV 663), composed at Leipzig, “Erbarm dich mein, o Herre Gott” (BWV 721) and, finally, the Prelude and Fugue in B minor (BWV 544).

The CD is exquisitely documented. The front cover offers an unusual perspective on the monumental baroque Müller organ. Piet Kee himself has written the liner notes describing something of the history of the instrument and giving brief but helpful guides to each individual piece here played. There follows a complete stop list, notes on tuning, pitch and wind pressure and a complete list of registrations used on the recording, making the issue ideal for organists as well as lovers of organ music.

Both recitals were produced and engineered by Ralph Couzens and Ben Connellan, and both capture the sound of the respective organs in a way that can only be described as breathtakingly beautiful. If you have adequate hifi equipment you can close your eyes and you will feel as though you had been “teleported” to the historical recording locations.

Piet Kee’s playing is magnificent and he has chosen the order of the pieces on both CDs so as not to overtax the ears – there is a fine alternation of fast and slow, loud and gentle. If you love Bach and/or the organ, you should consider buying these discs!