J.S. Bach - Toccata and Fugue in D minor BWV 565
Why Hacker News recommends it
Recommended as an expressive performance on a historically significant organ with good videography.
What it is
Organist Hans-Andre Stamm performs Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565, on the Trost organ in Waltershausen, Germany, an instrument from 1730. The video shows the playing and footwork.
Recommended by 3 HN commenters across 3 different months, 2016 to 2025.
What Hacker News said
Strong rec dust42 · 2025-11 · on “Two recently found works of J.S. Bach presented in Leipzig [video]”
My absolute personal favourite is Toccata and Fugue played by organist Hans-André Stamm on the Trost-Organ of the Stadtkirche in Waltershausen [1]. Great videography, great organ and very expressive organist. From 3:28 on you can also see the foot work. [1] [this video]
Recommends david-given · 2016-12 · on “Knuth: Fantasia Apocalyptica”
I love organ music; but you have to listen to it live. The low notes don't come across properly on recorded media (also you don't feel your chest resonate). Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, one of the most famous pieces of organ music ever, played on an organ built in 1730 (and, if I read the history right, it was actually specified by Bach): [this video] You can hear the recording simply outright fail on the low notes. The organ has a 32-foot pipe, which produces 16Hz notes. The reocrding simply doesn't do it justice; if you ever get the chance, listen to it live; it's an almost transcendent experience. There are, however, apparently two organs in the world with 64-foot pipes (8Hz!) and seve
Recommends goldenkey · 2018-03 · on “Can any composer equal Bach?”
I agree but I also would remind you that the player plays a large role in keyed music. For example, constant velocity MIDI makes a dissonant slaughter of any harmonic music, and totally destroys the swing of rythymic music. A player with the wrong motivation or lacking passion, pretty much reduces to a souped up MIDI. Organs are especially expressive, even more so than pianos. Try listening to the "Frankenstein music" from Bach, it is pretty easy to relate to and Hans-Andre Stamm plays it on an appropriately large church organ with the necessary emotion and "godhead" existential feeling/motivation behind it. [this video]