Donald Satz wrote (January 8, 2002):
Summary: Programming problems preclude a strong recommendation

This is the final installment in Harald Vogel's "The Bach Circle" series which provides music of Bach's predecessors, contemporaries, and students. To retrace a little, Volume 1 on pedal harpsichord was an excceptional disc while Volume 2 was only given a qualified recommendation largely due to the limited variety of programming. There is no question that Vogel is a major Bach performing artist; a fine program and organ is all he needs to give us a memorable recording.

For Volume 3, about half the disc consists of the three J.S. Bach works. Lubeck, Ammerbach, and Scheidt are the Bach predecessors, and his students are Homilius and C.P.E. Bach.

The three Bach works are performed splendidly as would be expected from Vogel. A strong angularity is favorable for the Preludes & Fugues, and Vogel certainly comes through; most impressive is his BWV 545 Fugue which is majestic and inspiring. The BWV 768 Partita receives a wonderful reading with distinctive and irresistable registrations.

And yet, the disc is not fully satisfying because the remainder of the program has me yearning for more J.S. Bach. The Lubeck Praeludium in D minor does not represent Lubeck at his most inspired; the Fugue has a repeated-note subject which gets tiresome well before the conclusion. The Ammerbach piece is a nice dance number but short and of little consequence. The Scheidt selection is not among his best works, and the same applies to the Homilius and C.P.E. Bach pieces. The result is that the quality of music takes a big dip after J.S. Bach, and that isn't necessary at all. Although for different reasons, I find the programming to be questionable as I did for Volume 2.

Don's Conclusions: The 3 CDs in this Vogel series are not issued as a set. That affords the buyer the flexibility to choose among the three recordings, and Volume 1 on the pedal harpsichord is easily the best pick. In fact, I consider it an essential acquisition. My best advice is to acquire Volume 1 immediately and bypass the other two recordings in the series.

Harald Vogel: “The Bach Circle”, Volume 1 | “The Bach Circle”, Volume 2 | “The Bach Circle”, Volume 3