Japan Evangelical Lutheran Sapporo Church

Bach - Toccata and Fugue in D minor BWV 565

Played by Gottfried Preller at the organ of the Bach Church, Arnstadt.

Johann Sebastian Bach had relatives in Arnstadt, heard that a new organ was being built in the new church (Neuekirche) to replace the one lost when the St. Boniface church was destroyed by fire, tuned and certified the new organ and was promptly employed as the organist. The young musician played the Wender organ for more than two years in the church known as the Bach Church since 1935.

It's still a matter of controversy whether Johann Sebastian Bach really was the creator of this toccata, which was subject to north German influence. This expressive composition originated between 1703 and 1706 in Arnstadt, Bach's first place of employement. Up to the present day, it remains one of the most popular compositions in the art of baroque organ music.

Gottfried Preller studied from 1967-72 at the Franz Liszt College of Music in Weimar. He was a prize-winner at the International Johann Sebastian Bach Competition in Leipzig in 1972. He has been organist for the Evangelical-Lutheran Parish in Arnstadt since 1981. He has undertaken concert tours throughout Europe and to Japan and the USA.