James McVinnie: Bach for Organ & Piano

The evening begins with one of the composer’s delicate, decorative forays into the French Baroque: the French Suite in E flat major. McVinnie contrasts this with the florid lines and spirited extroversion of the Italian Concerto, in a language that Vivaldi would have recognised. In between these two works on the piano, McVinnie turns to the organ for the Italian-influenced Trio Sonata in C minor. Here Bach deftly exploits the organ pipes’ ability to imitate the timbres of several different instruments. After the interval, McVinnie plays two of the Chorale Preludes for organ, in each of which Bach lights up a Lutheran melody with fantastical surroundings. The recital concludes with two Preludes and Fugues, one on each instrument.