Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

We gave a nine square rating to Terence Charlston's performance of organ music by JS Bach ('Sounds Of Bach') and now we can applaud his follow-up that gives us more from the same broad period. JS Bach's music is featured again but is now placed within a perspective provided by composers of the immediately preceding and succeeding generations: Georg Muffat, Henry Purcell, François Couperin, Johann Philipp Kirnberger, Georg Böhm, John Stanley, and one of his sons, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach. Extra interest for organ buffs is provided by the choice of instrument. This was designed for the St Albans International Organ Festival and is modelled on those built by the Silbermann family in the 18th century. Much of this technical information will sound dull to the non-specialist but the music is far from being that. Baroque music, at its best, is tuneful and, with many of the pieces on this CD being based on hymn tunes, this recital is finger-tappingly hum-able. The instrument sounds wonderful and Terence Charlston is an outstanding musician.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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