KHCD-2010-053 (STEREO) - J. S. Bach: The Two- and Three-Part Inventions, BWV 772-801 - George Malcolm, harpsichord - To teach and to systematically collect were dominant traits in JS Bach's musical life. He taught all his life, and much of his music is didactic in purpose; the Inventions , begun in 1720 for his eldest son, Wilhelm Freidemann, being a very well known example. Almost everyone who has studied piano seriously has come upon them; they are meant to be especially rewarding to a budding pianist once they are mastered. George Malcolm performs them with purposeful energy and stylishness, in a recording from a Nonesuch LP. Perfect for a beginning keyboardist, or a listener's intro to Bach's singular genius.

KHCD-2011-031-2CD (STEREO) - Handel - Organ Concerti, Vol. 1: The Baroque Organ of the Parish Church in Körbecke (Concerti Nos. 4 in F, 10 in d minor & 16 in F) and the Gabler Organ of Weingarten Abbey (Concerti Nos. 5 in F, 6 in B-flat, 7 in B-flat, & 8 in A) - Rudolf Ewerhart, organist; Collegium Aureum/Reinhart Peters - These recordings made by Harmonia Mundi were guided by the idea of presenting Handel's Concerti for Organ in performances on several instruments of varying sizes and types. Since Handel's organ style shows elements of the South German - Italian manner as well as French techniques, the instruments chosen for this volume serve well the wealth of forms and variety of structure in Handel's works on these discs.  Rudolf Ewerhart chooses tempi and registers appropriate for each movements of the concerti, as well as attention to the venues' acoustics (all four churches recorded in this 2-volume set are very reverberant). The Collegium Aureum on original instruments play with verve and stylistic attention to detail. The source for this collection is a 4-LP Musical Heritage Society set in near-mint condition. A specially priced, 2-CD set. 

KHCD-2011-032-2CD (STEREO) - Handel - Organ Concerti, Vol. 2: The "Trinity" Organ by Karl Joseph Riepp in Ottobeuren (Concerti Nos. 3 in g minor, 9 in B-flat, 11 in g minor, & 14 in A)and the Cabinet Organ of the Geertekerk in Utrecht (Concerti Nos. 1 in g minor, 2 in B-flat, 12 in F, 13 in B-flat, & 15 in d minor) - Rudolf Ewerhart, organist; Collegium Aureum/Reinhart Peters - Comments for Volume 1 apply as well for this set. Both volumes are specially priced, 2-CD sets. 

KHCD-2011-043-2CD (STEREO) - Handel: Organ Concerti, Vol. 1- Six Concerti, Op. 4; Concerto No. 13 in F "Cuckoo and the Nightingale"; Concerto No. 14 in A - Lionel Rogg playing the organ of the Abbey Saint Michel de Gaillac/Chamber Orchestra of Toulouse/Georges Armand - It was only natural that the entrepreneur in Handel, one of the first truly independent composers who produced opera and oratorios in public theaters at his own risk, recognized that by capitalizing on his own talent as a virtuoso organist and improviser that he could add one more element that would seduce people to the theaters where his music would be performed. During the interludes, Handel would perform an organ concerto, a secular virtuoso piece; it became his personal innovation. Lionel Rogg performs with the Toulouse Chamber Orchestra in a superb collection of Handel's complete Op. 4 works for organ, plus Concerti No. 13 & 14. 

KHCD-2011-044-2CD (STEREO) - Handel: Organ Concerti, Vol. 2 - Six Concerti, Op. 7; Concerto No. 15 in d minor; Concerto No. 16 in F - Lionel Rogg playing the organ of the Abbey Saint Michel de Gaillac/Chamber Orchestra of Toulouse/Georges Armand - Comments as for Vol. 1 apply; this collection includes the complete Op. 7 works for organ, plus Concerti No. 15 & 16. 

KHCD-2011-055 (STEREO) - Musiques Royales a Notre Dame - Brass and Organ works by Mouret, De Lalande, and Lully - Maurice André, trumpet; Pierre Cochereau, organ; Brand and Wind Ensemble conducted by Armand Birbaum - 17th and 18th Century French Organ Masterworks: Music of  Piroye,  Marchand, F. Couperin, De Grigny & Clérambault - Pierre Froidebise plays the Great Organ of the Church Saint-Laurent d'Alkmaar - The glorious majesty and pomp of combined brass and organ is irresistible in sonic appeal, as the first half of this reissue reveals. Recorded in the sublime spaciousness of Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, this recording features Maurice Andre on 1st trumpet, and also the unique brass timbre that only French players can reproduce. The second half of the disc offers rare 17th and 18th century French organ masterpieces, played with suitable verve and sensitivity by organist Pierre Froidebise, performing on the Great Organ of the Church Saint-Laurent d'Alkmaar.

KHCD-2011-083-3CD (STEREO) - J. S. Bach: Orgelbüchlein, BWV 599-644 - Organ Choral Preludes for the Church Year, Cantata Chorales, and other Chorale settings - Chorus of the Gedächtniskirche, Stuttgart - Helmuth Rilling, organist and conductor - Bach's original intention for the Orgelbüchlein was to compose 164 preludes on the 161 chorale melodies he listed on the 92 introductory pages of the manuscript (three titles are entered twice). He got around to finishing only 46, but managed to hit the high spots of the church year, coming close to achieving his purpose, if only at a smaller scale. The finely etched miniatures of the Orgelbüchlein chorales in this recording are paired with choral settings by Bach and others to demonstrate the relationship of the organ pieces to their models in the Lutheran liturgy. Reverently performed by the Chorus of the Gedächtniskirche, Stuttgart,  and led by Bach expert Helmuth Rilling, this 3-CD set is derived from a 4-LP Nonesuch set, originally recorded by Barenreiter.

                                                        See also under Choral/Vocal

KHCD-2011-094 (STEREO) - J. S. Bach Four Great Organ Toccatas: Toccata and Fugue in d minor, S. 565; Toccata, Adagio, and Fugue in C, S. 564; Toccata and Fugue in d minor, S. 538 "Dorian"; Toccata and Fugue in E, S. 566 - Harry Grodberg plays on the Cavaillé-Coll Organ in the Great Hall of the Moscow Music Conservatory - Well-know Toccatas from the Baroque master,  played on the last opus of  Cavaillé-Coll by Harry Grodberg. The straightforward approach to the music is refreshing; no Romantic give-and-take, rather presenting the music as it is on the page. Well recorded by Melodiya, circa 1970, and transcribed from a near-mint Melodiya/Angel onion-dome label late pressing LP. 

KHCD-2012-035 (STEREO) - Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on Theme by Paganini; Franck: Symphonic Variations; Litolff: Scherzo from Concerto Symphonique No. 4 - Leonard Pennario, pianist; Boston Pops Orchestra/Arthur Fiedler - The LP from  which this CD is transcribed marked the RCA Red Seal debut of Leonard Pennario, released  in 1963. A keyboard tour de force, with outstanding accompaniment from the Boston Pops, recorded in the glowing acoustic of Boston Symphony Hall, and mastered in RCA’s trademark Dynagroove. Demonstration-quality sound, and great performances.