The performances are both elegant and stylish by soloist and ensemble. A lovely transparency of sound has been attained, aided considerably by this unusually beautiful organ. (…) The entire release bears the stamp, ‘exquisite’.

45 little masterpieces for the Lutheran Service. The explanatory title Bach gave to his Orgelbüchlein, a collection of chorale preludes composed in Weimar between 1708 and 1717 is as follows: Little organ book, in which the aspiring organist is given guidance in the performance of a chorale in many different ways, as well as in perfecting himself in the study of the pedal, since in all of the chorales contained herein the pedal part is obligatory. In honour solely of God on high, and for the instruction of my fellowmen.

The earliest full organs in Europe were built before the development of a specific repertoire for the instrument. Taken from historic recordings made between 1963 and 1973, this set is now being reissued for third time - proof that the interpretations of Francis Chapelet, Michel Chapuis, René Saorgin and Helmut Winter are still as fresh as ever. Here they breathe new life into instruments of major historical interest from all over Europe, dating from the late 15th century to the 18th. A thrilling musical voyage across periods and repertoires…
Francis Chapelet plays the organs of Palma de Mallorca (Sant Agusti: organ of the monastery by Caimari-Bosch, late 17th century; Sant Geroni: organ by Matheu Bosch, 1746), Trujillo (organ of St Martin’s church, early 18th century) and Covarrubias (organ of the collegiate church by Diego de Orio Tejada, 17th-18th centuries). René Saorgin plays the organs of Malaucène (organ by Charles Boisselin, 1712), Brescia (San Giuseppe: organ by Graziadio Antegnati, 1581) and Bastia (Sainte-Marie: organ by Serassi, 1844). Michel Chapuis plays the organs of Marmoutier (André Silbermann, 1710) and Saint-Maximin (Jean-Esprit Isnard, 1772). Helmut Winter plays the organs of Trebel (Johann Georg Stein senior, 1777) and Altenbruch (Coci-Klapmeyer, 1498-1730).