Bach - Prelude and fugue in G major BWV 550 - Havinga | Netherlands Bach Society

In early sources the opening of the Prelude and fugue in G major, performed by Matthias Havinga for All of Bach, is described as a “praeludio in G-dur con pedal“. There is nothing unusual about the use of pedals (the ‘keys’ of the organ operated by the feet) in an organ piece in Bach’s day. But twelve bars into the piece you hear a long, lively pedal solo, which not only requires more than a second-rate village organist, but also more than a second-rate village organ. The range of the solo covers more than two octaves, which was definitely not the norm at the time! Recorded for the project All of Bach on September 21st 2016 at the St Bavo’s Church, Haarlem. If you want to help us complete All of Bach, please subscribe to our channel and consider donating This recording was made with support of the Miller Family Charitable Foundation. For the interview with organist Matthias Havinga on the Prelude and fugue in G major go to https:/