Main content

Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor

Sara Mohr-Pietsch surveys the musical landscape surrounding JS Bach's iconic Toccata and Fugue BWV 565. This tour-de-force is instantly recognisable - but is it even for organ?

Sara Mohr-Pietsch surveys the musical landscape surrounding JS Bach's iconic Toccata and Fugue BWV 565. This keyboard tour-de-force is instantly recognisable: ask anyone to think of a piece for organ and they'll instantly recite those opening notes. But the work had to be rescued from obscurity, first by the great Bach revivalist Mendelssohn, then in the twentieth century by Stokowski with his classic reworking for Walt Disney's Fantasia. Sara also follows a path alongside some of the other great pieces for this monumental instrument, including music by Widor and an arrangement of Meredith Monk by James McVinnie. And an astonishing performance by violinist Rachel Podger gets Sara asking whether the Toccata and Fugue was even written for the organ.

To listen to this programme on most smart speakers, just say: 'Ask 麻豆社 Sounds to play Music Map'.

8 days left to listen

1 hour, 29 minutes

Last on

Sun 26 Apr 2026 13:30
麻豆社 Radio 3

More episodes

Previous

Mozart's Piano Sonata in A major, K. 331

Next

Wagner's Siegfried Idyll

See all episodes from Music Map

Music Played

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Toccata and fugue in D minor BWV.565 for organ

    Performer: Olivier Latry.
    • La Dolce Volta.

  • Charles鈥怣arie Widor

    Symphony No. 5 In F Minor, Op. 42 No. 1: 5. Toccata (Allegro)

    Performer: Simon Preston.
    • Vierne: Carillon de Westminster / Widor: Symphony No. 5.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 6.

  • Benjamin Britten

    Hymn to St Cecilia, Op 27

    Choir: Tenebrae. Conductor: Nigel Short.
    • SIGNUM.

  • Anonymous

    Madrigal: ay schonsolato ed amoroso in sadie

    Ensemble: Early Music Consort of London. Director: David Munrow.
    • EMI VERITAS.

  • Meredith Monk

    Ellis Island (arr. for organ by James McVinnie)

    Performer: James McVinnie.
    • Dreamcatcher.
    • Pentatone.

  • Camille Saint鈥怱a毛ns

    Symphony no.3 in C Minor "organ symphony": Finale

    Performer: Paul Jacobs. Orchestra: Utah Symphony. Conductor: Thierry Fischer.
    • Hyperion.

  • Procol Harum

    A Whiter Shade Of Pale

    • A White Shade of Pale.
    • EDEL.
    • 1.

  • Claudio Monteverdi

    Toccata (L'Orfeo)

    Ensemble: H枚枚r Barock. Ensemble: Ensemble Altrapunkta. Conductor: Fredrik Malmberg.
    • BIS.

  • C茅cile Chaminade

    Toccata op.39

    Performer: Olga Kopylova.
    • Azul Music.

  • Alexander Mosolov

    Harp Concerto: IV Toccata

    Performer: Xavier de Maistre. Orchestra: WDR Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Nathalie Stutzmann.
    • SONY.

  • Dieterich Buxtehude

    Toccata in D minor BuxWV.155

    Performer: Ton Koopman.
    • Challenge Classics.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Toccata and fugue in D minor BWV.565

    Performer: Rachel Podger. Music Arranger: Chad Kelly.
    • CHANNEL CLASSICS.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Symphony no. 4 in A major Op.90 (Italian): 4th movement; Saltarello (Presto)

    Orchestra: Tonhalle-Orchester Z眉rich. Conductor: Paavo J盲rvi.
    • ALPHA.

  • Amilcare Ponchielli

    La Gioconda: Dance of the hours

    Orchestra: The Philadelphia Orchestra. Conductor: Leopold Stokowski.
    • Buena Vista Records.

Broadcast

  • Sun 26 Apr 2026 13:30
    麻豆社 Radio 3