Piet Kee plays Bach & Buxtehude

I think the reason there aren't any reviews for this is that it was released around 10 years ago. My neighbor bought it because it was top-rated by some CD magazine then, and I was over at his place and demanded to know what it was! I've listened to it many, many times over the years and it is still extraordinary. It deeply affected my personal interpretation of Bach's work (as a violinist). Piet Kee's playing brings Bach's century to life on that organ, and the acoustical engineering obviously played a part in the high quality of this recording. Bravo!

This superb CD of late 17th and early 18th century organ music by two of Germany's many masters of the time seems to serve at least three purposes extremely well: 1) It provides an ear-pleasing introduction to the organ music of both composers, complete with short but informative commentaries by the organist; 2) It shows off Piet Kee as a prize-winning organist at his best; 3) It demonstrates the luscious sound of the renovated organ by Van Hagerbeer and F. C. Schnitger at the St. Laurens Church in Alkmaar. The recorded sound is amazingly clean and accurate and gives a well-nigh perfect impression, as though one were sitting in the church and listening. And the accompanying booklet is exemplary, with not only Kee's notes on the music but also a table giving the history of the instrument, plus - for organists - a complete list of stops and of the registrations used. Five star material all the way ... and then you might want to go on to purchase some more of the delightful organ recitals by Piet Kee on Chandos.

Note added on 25 November 2005: This recital was recorded in November 1988, at the same time as Piet Kee's next Chandos recital, released as Chandos-Chaconne 0506 under the title "Piet Kee plays Bach on the Müller organ of St. Bavo, Haarlem". I have now heard both recitals and can recommend them without reservation for their great sound and marvellous music.