568 thoughts on “August 2010 Vodcast – Toccata and Fugue in D minor BWV 565 – J. S. Bach”

  1. Sandie DeFilippis

    Good morning, Sean. A beautiful way to start my Sunday. Thank you. It was lovely. Another great job! See you Tuesday. Love, Sandie

  2. m chatman

    Sean,
    This set is one of my all time favorites. Wow—Your performance was excellent, powerful and truly inspirational.
    Thank you for continuing to share your God given talents.

    Kelly

  4. Fr. Gage

    Very good. Could be crisper. May be the recording. A little more dynamics? Remember, I heard this for four years straight. Will you play it at my funeral? Why would anyone want to listen to anything other than Bach? Must be my Lutheran based mother.

  6. Joy Wallace

    Glorious! Majestic! Beautiful instrument! Enjoyed seeing your hands and feet at work. Keep on keeping on. God’s continued blessings.
    Aunt Joy

  7. Nesta &Phil Murray

    Sean, I am sure old Johann Sebastian would have been shouting encore, encore, after your playing of what I think is his masterpieces of organ music. I viewed it and then replayed with my eyes shut seeing your hands and feet working their magic was awe inspiring, just listening made me appreciate what a great musical talent you are. Thankyou

    P.S. Wayne Marshall, eat your heart out!!!!!

  8. Elaine

    Well Sean, I doubt I will be humming this piece. Maybe in another life? I read the other comments which helped give me an appreciation of your talent and the music. Mostly I think about how dear you and Sally are to us, and how cute you are, while I enjoy your podcast. And your inspiring faith. Hugs

  13. LoonyYunie

    AMAZING performance, thank you for uploading this, wonderful sound and picture quality as well! Good job! 😀 I LOVE it!

  14. zaalism

    I remember taking pipe organ lessons when I was about 16yo and getting the feeling that the organ itself was almost an organic entity .. on some days, especially cold ones, some of the pipes had to ‘warm up’.. it had it’s moods and sometimes needed to be motivated.. no finer artistic collaboration between man and machine has been invented.. imho

  15. zaalism

    it’s not the looseness or it being ‘sloppy’ it’s the freedom of expression and love that you hear.. compared to the computer generated soloists that you may have heard

  18. ipwnn00bs4breakfast

    The best recording and superb performance. Excellent footwork and wonderful memory! I already own the album and listen to it all the time! Dr. Jackson, you are an amazing organist!!!

  25. TheGladstoneWrestlin

    look at your generation, now look back to me, you are now feeling the onset feelings of depression, see that knife in your hand, good, now the most honorable thing to do here is to commit Seppuku.now realize you’re dieing to the sound of extraordinary music and enjoy, as this is the last thing you’ll here before you die.

  32. AlainHubert

    Slight mistake on tempo on the bass pedals at 4:12.I prefer Hans-Andre Stamm’s version. Look for him under the channel name counterpoint85.You’ll understand what I mean.

  35. DaveG130

    A wine as fine as this song should be sipped and savored, yet he plays like he’s gulping it down. Otherwise a technically sound version.

  39. luisramos19

    You know you have an astonishing memory when you do not need sheet music to play a 9 minute piece!

  41. atallguynh

    Not necessarily… if you’ve worked with a piece long enough to achieve this level of polish and proficiency, the memorization pretty much happens on its own. That’s been my (limited) experience anyway.

  42. atallguynh

    He plays it like he’s trying to knock you over with a fire hose. There’s little that’s subtle in the piece as written or in the performance. Perfect IMHO.

  47. remoteretart

    Nothing is flawless that would be very boring indeed.But the Toccata and one good organist always makes my day.Even the incredible machine suffers from a slightly tilting -6-.

  52. ProperLogicalDebate

    Either a good memory or is it that his mind is in tune with the composers or the tune is in tune with hmanity and spiritual things at the same time. I suspect te third.

  54. jakobv8

    I’m absolutely amazed at the way you’re able to find your way through these manuals. I hardly know how to read notes, but I admire those who are able to and can turn those resting masterpieces into flaming music that will turn anyone into a Bach-fan. I especially love your footwork; it does seem to be a hard work to keep your feet going through all of these brilliant false-stops.

  55. jamooreks

    Congratulation Dr. Jackson. Incredibly well played. Considering the limitations of the instrument you are working with. Easily on par with the greats, such as Karl Richter etc. I would love to hear your interpretation played on one of the large Baroque organs of europe. That would be “magic” i’m sure!

  56. def3mno62

    it just blows my mind when I see someone play this song. Its just so fucking difficult looking haha

  57. Marina BERNARD

    Magistrale interprétation de cette pièce archi connue! C’est la meilleure que j’aie jamais entendue! Bravo à Sean jackson!!!

  58. Kakarot7

    Wonderful job my man! Very well played. Love this classical masterpiece, actually is the best ever, Bach FTW =)

  60. crazydavedisco

    While (as a novice) I am in awe of the talent involved in playing this at this level, please take a look at this link “Bach Toccata and Fugue (my best version on my home organ)” played by a young man of about 12 years old I guess. Exceptional!

  64. teresoninter444

    Wow. Dr. Jackson is an amazing player. i have heard this piece many times in different arrangements (including brass quintet and classical guitar) and i have to say tis is definitely the best. Keep up the awesome work!

  69. Hilton6740

    Yes, a great piece of music, but it should be remembered it may not have been composed by J.S.Bach. It was attributed to him after his death as no one knew for sure who was the real composer. It certainly is not in the style of the J.S.Bach music we are accustomed to listening to.

  71. canzady

    This is absolutely amazing, and I could listen to this every day, but those of “my generation” probably still want to look behind them for the Phantom of the Opera.

  74. wencroom

    It is quite obvious that Mr. Jackson has played this selection on that organ once or twice before. That organ alone is very intimidating in its appearance to say the least. Good Job!

  78. MadCoSnareLine

    But Bach in his earlier years tended to be a little more adventurous. He was quite strict with himself once he arrived in Leipzig. Nobody knows for sure, but there’s certainly no definite reason why it couldn’t have been Bach.

  81. ManicTheManic

    Why is there nothing comparable to this today? What happened, why did this kind of music die out, it seems so unreal that something that was mastered almost to perfection so many years ago just died out and everyone moved on, how could an art like this that defined entire periods in human history simply stop, I just don’t understand.

  85. skkiittllezz

    It didn’t die out even though noone listens to this music on a regular basis this music is recognized by all. Everyone has heard this song at some point, And the fact that people like you or I have heard it just goes to show how widely recognized this type of music still is.

  86. Denny2669

    yes, it´s very very sad, i can´t understand it either..but i hope that soon a new “mozart” will rise and restore this wonderfull music…

  88. Denny2669

    right :D…i wanted to write Bach. i don´t know why i wrote Mozart….but Mozart was too one of the best, right behind Bach…

  89. Valdakyr

    It’s not. But this is the plateau of virtousos, where you can’t say one is better than the other. They’re all genious, my friend. These are levels, where there is nothing for us to judge but to admire.

  90. GGbreizh

    There is, John Williams by example, listen to his violin concerto, to his cello concerto, to the shark cage fugue… There has always been great composers, including in the XXth century, Shostakovich, Prokoviev, Stravinsky, Bernstein and many many others, including today, but they are unknown by most of people.

  91. German Viola

    Or Paganini. Or my great great Uncle, Felix Mendelssohn. We need another Symphony no. 1 Reformation.

  92. André Minchetti

    É MARAVILHOSA ESSA MÚSICA,É UMA VIAGEM NA ALMA, NO ESPAÇO !!ANDRÉ MINCHETTI- BRAZÓPOLIS-MG

  95. lesterdiamond5

    that bold assertion may be debatable, but here’s a fact that is not debatable: I didn’t know monkeys have the same learning capacities as humans.

  97. james Delaplante

    Small point, but this is not Classical music. It’s Baroque. Bach and Vivaldi were the main composers of the Baroque Era. Then came the Classical Era starring Haydn and Mozart and a young Beethoven. Following that, the Romantic Era came along, with an older Beethoven, Chopin, Schubert,etc.

  100. MyNameZebra

    This kind of music lives on in our movies. Watch a John Williams or Alan Menken movie sometimes. I recommend googling them up and seeing what you get and paying attention to their scores and seeing if they are classical.

  105. vicegrip33

    Awh Man I enjoyed that !!!! Done masterfully too. And I love yer flow over the keys,not to mention You don’t look like you are ready to take over the Universewhile you are perfoming it like Karl Richter does….

  107. calypsocoral

    Easily one of the best interpretations of the final two-and-a-half minutes of the piece I have ever heard– unmatched in its seemlessness and sense of flow. I find myself wishing for a little more articulation in the first several minutes of the Fugue portion, but those final minutes more than make up for it. Beautifully-done!

  113. Marina BERNARD

    j’ai mis la vidéo en lien sur mon blog pour y accéder directement et je ne m’en lasse pas! La meilleure interprétation que jj’aie entendue jusqu’à ce jour!

  115. Maroš Cuník

    You confuse classical music, and classical era – this in fact IS classical music, because classical music is as old as 10 centuries – so even medieval music is considered classical. But you are right about the era: this is baroque era of classical music.

  116. james Delaplante

    True. But being a ****, I call overall classical music “Great Music”! :)To be precise, Baroque was from 1600 to 1750. Bach was #1 in the last 50 years known as High Baroque. “Fugue” is a musical form, and was perfected by Bach.I would direct everyone to a fabulous series of lectures on Great Music by an American Professor at the U of San Fransisco (I think). Go to PirateBay, and search for “TTC”.The torrents are very popular so will be in a day or 2.

  121. Cptjackjacky

    Question: I’m new to classical music, I use the term as a blanket here, my apologies, I understand Baroque, but tell me, where does Paganini fit in?

  122. james Delaplante

    He was a violin virtuoso as well as a composer who lived from 1782 to 1840. That makes him a romantic. Basically, the Baroque Era was from 1600-1750, the short Classical Era (Haydn and Mozart) from then until the French Revolution (1789), and then came the Romantic Era. Beethoven started off as a Classicist, and he wrote his 3rd Symphony, the “Eroica” (hero) in praise of Napoleon whom he thought would bring the ideals of the Revolution to Europe. Nope. Just another tyrant. 🙁

  123. james Delaplante

    To finish the post above re Beethoven and Napoleon, at one point, Beethoven wrote to a friend, “I wish I had never written the Eroica!” But I’m glad he did! The 3rd is my favourite Beethoven Symphony!

  124. Cptjackjacky

    Wow, this is fantastic, thank you very much, I needed it condensed like this, I plan to look into Classical music a lot, and this has REALLY helped! 😀

  128. Wysiest

    Men…are you serious… I only know how to play Oh clair de la Lune on a piano…Orguan is so far from the others instrument… 5 keyboards and I’m not able to count how many setting it can provides…And today we have Kitty Minaj… Thanks to these people who can still show us what used to be music a few centuries ago…

  129. TheTsunamiSam

    I have some organ experience play on my church organ and i am leaning the Suzuki method I’m 11 but what this guy can play is amazing if this guy is payed to do this he should get a 500% salary increase props to him

  133. Timurv1234

    He is free to choose his own tempo, as long as it is within the range of the given tempo ( example:prestissimo, adagio, etc..). also, he is free to sustain as long as he wants because there are coronas there.

  138. Jake Broer

    I hate how this brilliant song has been modernized. It is used as a creepy, scary song to add a more ominous feeling to a Halloween theme. Bach made this piece for the purpose of basically saying this:”You are in the presence of Jesus Christ. The one who came down from Heaven to save us from sin. He is one with His Father who is God, the one who created everything. Pay attention to Him and pay Him the respect He deserves.”

  139. Jake Broer

    But, like I said, it was brought to what it is known as today, a creepy, scary song. I wish this song could be appreciated for it’s original purpose by EVERYONE.

  140. Zwei4815

    This was played at my diocese’s cathedral after Mass for All Saints. It was kind of inappropriate.

  143. alfred ocaña moreno

    Such inappropriate artwork after a religious celebration? … seems to know no music, unlike that honor in his church have this wonderful and great work as Tocatta and Fugue in D minor.

  144. alfred ocaña moreno

    Such inappropriate artwork after a religious celebration? … seems to know no music, unlike that honor in his church have this wonderful and great work as Tocatta and Fugue in D minor.

  146. Mi Picasso

    You play this like no other person I have ever heard. All of the others made it sound so rush and they seemed like it was so difficult to play. You “run” through this like it was your first year Bach lesson. Awesome. Love the speed you played it. Thanks for sharing. Can’t wait to see and hear your other videos. Godspeed!

  147. marvenmema

    I can see what you mean but it’s not accurate to say this is not classical music. This is not from the classical *period* of classical music, but it is still classical music. Western classical music periods are classified like this:1) Early = medieval + renaissance + baroque2) Common Practice: (also) baroque + classical + romantic3) Modern & Contemporary: modern + 20th century + Contemporary + 21st centuryThis is all classical music nonetheless. 🙂

  149. Zwei4815

    Because Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor has come to be associated with horror movies and the popular notion of Halloween.

  150. mxgzn

    an association that can be corrected by playing the Tocatta in other contexts, it’s a beatiful work that deserves an image clean up

  151. Zwei4815

    I can’t think of a single appropriate point in the Tridentine Mass where this is appropriate. It’s not supposed to be a concert anyway.

  153. HDAbyss

    Are you kidding? This music was composed to be clerical music! It was always meant to be played in masses. It’s a very recent phenomenon (compared to the time for which it has existed) that music like this is being played on “mundane” concerts.

  156. Zwei4815

    It is a regrettable phenomenon when religious music gains a widespread association for being something unrelated to the Mass. The “Dies Irae” from the Catholic Requiem Mass is another example of religious music which has been degraded from what it is supposed to be to music which is tacked onto commercials and video game trailers.

  159. HDAbyss

    I’m sorry, but you don’t make any sense at all. However, I think we probably have the same opinion.

  160. Gautam K

    In what way is the culture being marginalized? Surely you should be happy that other people are coming to love the works of Art created by that culture?

  161. Zwei4815

    Have you heard of the controversy over the Victoria’s Secret model dressed like a kitschy stereotype of a Native American? It’s kind of like that when your culture’s things are used in commercials, or when your culture is highly stereotyped.

  168. nekonaru16

    So by that line of logic, was it also have been inappropriate for Hector Berlioz to use the theme from the Dies Irae in Symphonie Fantastique? Or what about Mozart?

  185. Stefan Müller

    no it is not to fast. why does all peopel critisies normal organ play? and give good comments to bad players? he is one of the worlds best organists.

  190. HolyEyEolo

    you mean bad comments to good players. it’s a matter of opinion, *I* would play it a little slower, that’s just me

  202. Joshua Palinkas

    I know right? my music teacher showed this to me in class and doesn’t this just give you the “holy crap?!” in your head?

  204. InFlam3sW3Trust

    There’s nothing hard about that. I’ve never understood musicians that need to sit there and stare at sheet music while they play. I don’t even read sheet music, I play by ear.

  205. 4everRory

    Bach was a genius. in billion of years, when manhood and earth are gone, his music will live forever.

  209. jrssjdca

    Well, if there was no need for sheet music, then it wouldn’t exist. At some point, ya gotta write it down and refer to it. Some musicians do read the music, but I myself don’t know why. They’re not sight reading, which is what you were alluding to, because that’s too slow. Sight reading is essentially to learn the piece. Once you’ve got it, then doing it by ear is the preferred way. I’m learning the piano and am much faster playing by ear and counting intervals.

  210. jrssjdca

    It’s 18 pages long…”holy crap” indeed, and his more mature pieces are probably longer than that.

  212. btfaling

    Well yeah, once you practice something enough, it becomes memorized. Every song I know on piano I have memorized.

  213. InFlam3sW3Trust

    It is positively massive. But really, I’m not acting like I’m the only one. A metric shit ton of people play from memory.

  218. jrssjdca

    Oh I don’t know. Seems like a lot. Granted, classical pieces are a lot longer than that. One guy I know has Beethoven, Brahms, and Chopin manuscripts, and they’re like small magazines.

  219. KakeiTheWoIf

    The Opus Clavicembalisticum by Sorabji is, if memory serves right, about 248 pages of sheet music.

  220. Frank Martino

    Nobody is saying that Asians in Asia will ever be a minority.Because they won’tSo why are people saying White Britons will be a minority in Britain in 2066?And saying White Swedes will be a minority in Sweden in 2025?That’s because there’s massive non-White immigration in all White countries and only White countries.That’s because there’s a programme of White genocide.They say it’s anti-racist but it’s simply anti-White.Anti-racism is a code word for anti-White

  234. Marina BERNARD

    La meilleure interprétation que j’ai entendue de ce morceau très connu! Le magistral combiné à une légèreté sans égal….

  236. Christian Jobes

    there’s a german comedian (Dieter Nuhr) who ones said, if you don’t have a clue, just shut your mouth! (really a wise man) ;)Btw, it’s said, that JSB wrote that “song” when he was really, really angry about sth …

  241. Andrew92Swim

    lol…it’s J.S.Bach…it takes skill to memorize and recite any piece, especially one of THIS magnitude.

  242. Jaxx Cobalt

    Anyone who can play organ is very skilled an to play this song on the organ is amazing 🙂

  247. Jean-Marc B

    maravilha deive ser o som na entrada no paraiso BRAVO !!!!!!very nice is super nice

  250. sainte-claire philippe

    Very Very formidable! Le souffle coupé! Enfin un authentique, un artiste !

  252. greatj45

    To jest po prostu ………….. niesamowite. Muzyka która jest ponadczasowa. Zawsze pi?kna i czysta.

  253. Generalgeorgepickett George

    Virgil Fox would be pleased with your rendition and I am sincerely impressed by it sir! Bach is the great organ visual and we are his music rewards! Thank You for your accomplishments! Very, Very good indeed!

  271. thorlockthemage

    You know how many black guys on this planet know how to play the organ? One. His name is Sean mothafuckin’ Jackson.

  278. Robby Baker

    i love how he emphasized the low notes. i can only imagine how much bass those pipes will put out. awesome best song ever composed btw

  282. Liostro Ramiro

    Maistro Jackson, you bring tears to my eyes listening to your performance. God Bless

  285. AmickProductions

    Beautiful….but, have you wondered what it must have been like in the 1700’s when J.S. Bach was practicing? Blaring out wrong notes from the the Cathedral every few minutes. I bet the town ‘loved’ that.

  289. wegw gewgew

    Mam 13 lat jestem po szkole dla organistów i gra?em to te? i mam par? uwag .A mianowicie : gdy grasz robisz za du?e odst?py w akordach i w ogóle w graniu.Niestety musisz to zmieni?.Ale to i tak bez tej mojej uwagi wysz?o bardzo ?adne , mo?na powiedzie? PRAWIE PERFEKCYJNIE

  290. wegw gewgew

    I’m 13 years I have been the school for organists and played it well, and I have a few comments. Namely: if you play too much spacing and all the chords you need to zmieni?.Ale graniu.Niestety it anyway without my attention that came out very nice you can say ALMOST PERFECT

  295. lohphat

    Great job! The tempo takes into account the acoustics of the space. Too many players rush through the piece slurring the phrases because they’re pushing the room faster than the sound decay.

  298. silvia ines Griner

    No lo puedo creer.. Toca con un angel en su manos. Cada nota, cada sonido que sale de ese órgano, es perfecto. Es J;S: Bach. Tal cual como él lo creó. Sublime¡¡¡¡¡¡¡

  306. Adalberto Pontes

    A delicadeza deste organista e musico e muito linda. O toque é realmente muito bonito. “DEUS” deu para nós duas filhas as duas são organistas..

  308. Alex Wilson

    This is a truly masterful performance. This is my favorite piece of music and this may be the best rendition I’ve heard.

  309. jimmjimm6699

    If we could bring people back from the dead, Back would be my first choice. Just think of the skill he would show to the musicians (and rappers) of our music today.

  310. jimmjimm6699

    Not to mention the new songs he could release from his brain to the world.

  315. ANDREW THUITA

    Nice to see a fellow organist brother! The performance was clean and imaginative and and passionate befitting of the composition. It was featured in my own senior college recital in 1983.

  316. jedujedujedu

    Of course. No need. If you practice a piece for years, you need no sheets, they’re useless and distract you. It’s only you and music. You deal with divine perfection here. Bach was pure genius.

  327. bartmathijssen

    i dont really think that a master like bach would make many mistakes. he would have most music ready in his head 🙂

  331. julasinio

    organ- one of this instruments, when you make a mistake, everybody knows ! yet if i could play like that, id just brake into churches and scare the shit out of some priests

  333. Dennoire

    The next time I hear someone rattle on about black musicians and the blues, and white players with classical, I’m gonna point them to this vid. The guy doesn’t even have sheet music for fucks sake.That was an amazing performance mate.

  334. BugBear1969

    Couldn’t agree with you more. At first glance you might expect a Jimmy Smith sermon but then he blows you away with an awesome rendition of a memorised Bach fugue – which is a feat in itself….not to mention the fancy bloody footwork! Hats off to you, Mr Jackson.

  337. David Najor

    How funny! It takes a lot to make me laugh, but your comment on Bach tormenting the towns people with sour notes is funny to imagine.Though I think he probably had it all figured out quietly on a small organ before he decided to wake up the sleepy towns folks with his music.

  338. David Najor

    I actually prefer his playing of this piece than that of E. Power Biggs, and that’s a huge compliment in of itself.

  339. Harold Smith

    The most great work of Johann Sebastian Bach It was supposed to have been written when he was only19 years of age, after his famous 50 mile treck to hear an organ recital of Buxtahude..was 73 years of age.

  341. Estel Kerger

    that is really sore and he has played well with his feet playing really lovely self

  342. george sandoz

    there weren’t too many bummers by all accounts… this version is bummer absent. And pretty cool, too

  343. Riki Nut

    Love this piece. U r so very good. Such talent and passion. Thank u for sharing this lovely work. Moe

  344. Riki Nut

    One of my favorites. I don’t know where “Moe” came from in my first comment. Lol.

  352. IchigoKurosaki123056

    Playing piano with hands and feet at the same time.. People are incredible.

  358. TheGrandBrand

    Haha, no, not at all!Be aware that J.S. Bach was able to and regularly did improvise 4-voice fugues. He could do that for as long as two hours.So, I think it’s fair to say that Bach’s organ practice didn’t look anything like the humorous vision you presented :)He wasn’t just your average musician…

  361. Katie Burak

    I really want to learn how to play the organ. Definitely the best way to convey music.

  366. Mixta2012

    This is my second favorite fugue(the first one is 533) and the second best performing of this one(the first one was made by super professionals who carefully analysed every single thing)

  368. WuzupMinecraft

    I would have said that this guy is a God amount men, but he did some parts too fast and in my opinion, going to fast just ruined those parts. Still an amazing performance though

  369. ThatArjun

    Back then it was frankenstein’s theme….now its Orachimaru’s theme…. 😀 I love classical music….

  375. Sean Jackson

    LOL! In all fairness London, I believe the dislikes are more to do with my interpretation of the piece as opposed to the genius of J. S. Bach:)

  377. Stein Høyer

    A very solid and fine interpretation of this perhaps most famous organ piece of all times.

  378. TheTelstar008

    A quite, wonderful rendition of one of my favourite organ pieces. And, very much enjoyed your interpretation of J S Bach’s sublime Toccata and Fugue in d minor. Thank you sir.

  379. Valerii Lipanov

    Thxs! This is my musical present to the 21st century 300 Spartans as the FOIA operating officers.I do remember my Teacher Mr.Dmitry Plukhin and Mr.Brian Greene too by the way! Good luck! God bless you!!

  381. Marcelo de Araújo Silva

    Eu quero saber a menos aconteça outra estóriaA Senhora que Faz A Hora. Sana. Em Verdade, por Verdade, na Verdade, é! Verdade. É! Todos queremos paz. O que esperam. Melhor é velho do que morrer aos trinta. Aparta (12) Sana; a arrogância tem sua idiotice também.Sana;A sua, A tua é A outra, mas sem 1déias -ipse crê…

  384. gentenaarinzweden

    Brilliant performance, right tempi – simply perfect! You own my proper respect,with greetings, Daniel from Sweden

  385. Mario Solanti

    non amo musica classica,ma questa per me é la migliore composizione da me ascoltata,bravo l’organista ma grandissimo BACH

  388. Keith Lawes

    Fantastic! Just the way I like it. Lots of variation in tempo and volume. I play it in a similar (maybe less precise) way. Was once told I was “too theatrical” and should play in a more regular tempo.So you take an instrument where tempo is the only means of instantaneous expression (i.e. apart from varying the stops) and then say that you should stick rigidly to one speed.Seems an illogical orthodoxy to me. But what does a bumbling amateur like myself know!

  390. Bronzebk

    Your views are spot on, despite referring to yourself as an “bumbling amateur”.One person’s opinion of rigid tempo-compliance is simply their opinion only. There are Millions of other opinions besides theirs.I usually get standing ovations, because I play from my heart… with powerful emotions, which usually ignores the confines of the tempo.I always prefer such renditions that are played similarly.

  393. ENCORETOOLS

    Relax…Bach himself was criticized for the complexity of his playing in church.They had no song books with music notation back then and the overture was to give the congregation the tune. Bach’s overtures so buried the tune that no one could sing it.Overture is the wrong word since it was probably just the first verse. This little factoid left over from my music appreciation course in 12th grade. 🙂

  404. MrEjoseo

    tocas nuy bien en ese organo gigante tienes mas videos subelos para verlos podrias poner uno tocando remember sadneess por fa me gustaria verlo

  409. richard mcdaniel

    dude, this is amazing, i have been a big fan of all the classical creators and i must say this is one of the greatset performances by anyone other than the master himself; i myself am beginning to study the piano, but i bow to your skills my friend

  411. Seth Tyrssen

    Well, a definite “like” from me! I always envision the Phantom of the Opera whenever I hear this piece…

  413. corajefan

    I was looking for a wolf howl sound effect for a project in my production studio, and this Toccata and Fugue video was in the related video section… which is so annoying, because I grew up listening to this music as well as the Beatles or Pink Floyd, but some retarded people still relate organ music to their stupid scary Halloween bullshit, monsters and some other nonsense. Listen up, this is so beautiful, what does it have to do with horror??? Think out of the fucking box!!

  417. Enrico Penaglia

    This is my favourite piece of all time. Your interpretation is excellent, I like it very much. One of the best I have ever heard, expecially the fugue.

  418. Uros Stanojlovic

    The best organ Masterpiece ever!., great playing!., my small tribute to J. S. Bach (02:31):Uros Stanojlovic – Piano medley (for France & Greece)

  419. Sir To You

    I know its perfect music JS Bach is my favourite composer, I can only guess they didn’t like the performance nothing to do with the piece. You cannot get better music than JS Bach!I loved it 🙂

  424. Gregor Kupfer

    Bach is divine, I love his music ever since my parents played the first disc to me. (I hope this is correct, English isn”t my mother tongue).Mr. Jackson’s play is great, it’s making me melt into Bach’s music, I’m floating away.. great, couldn’t be any better!

  429. TheGEODEAHOLIC

    i think bachs’ T&F in D minor is the most beautiful organ music ever composed. you played it well.

  435. BillyRosinet

    Lamentably the thumbs-down is up to 54. Guess Taylor Swift fans stopped by and were disappointed to learn that Old Man Bach didn’t write break-up tunes.

  436. BillyRosinet

    Not to be critical or anything, your comment is uncalled for. The man’s color has nothing to do with his musical talent.

  439. Hartsock2009

    Well in my country we don’t have such talented black individuals. I didn’t call for a racist remark and it seems as though my comment has fallen upon a weak mind. My comment was not pointing out his colour but my astonishment I feel about this.

  443. Hannes Buschmann

    Eigentlich gebührt diese Aufgabe dem Bachkenner Rolf. Doch vielleicht möchte er nicht mit diesem “Gassenhauer” daherkommen :-)Darum stellvertretend und sowieso Euch allen ein schönes Wochenende! Mit dieser schönen Interpretation von Bach’s Toccata.

  444. Dean One-earth

    Your interpritaion of the peice is more like it should sound. Like I played it at the Concert hall and St Marys Catheral. Its hard to find a good performance of it, so many seem to give it this old fuddy duddy different timing and sound. Ive put your recording in my book marks and on my facebook Dean One-earth 🙂

  445. 2010Schmiddi

    i think there is only 1 person who can play this track a little bit better than you (of the versions i found in youtube), and that is Hans-Andre Stamm from Germany

  449. BillyRosinet

    My point is Mr. Jackson’s musical talent can be applauded without making reference to his physical characteristics. What you said is comparable to someone saying so-and-so is pretty smart…for a girl.

  450. BillyRosinet

    It’s up to 56. Must’ve been some lost Justin Bieber fans who wouldn’t know good music if it hit them in the forehead.

  451. Ivan

    ..is there any good performances of this masterpeice on organ.. because organ players on youtube suck… this is very very bad performance.. why do you play, this is terribe… listen to Stephn Hough how he plays on piano this – thats the real way to play it. Your playing is just pain for ears.

  452. Jimmi Vedsegaard Pedersen

    A little too heavy on the bass and some minor mistakes (which are acceptable in this complicated piece). But otherwise great!

  456. Sir To You

    Indeed + what you said, except i disgarded the Beatles as trite pretty much, apart from the odd songs, and I preferred Mc Cartney to Lennon. I’m guessing you might also listen to New Order 🙂 JS Bach was a christian with 7 kids – this piece has no relationship to evil – If you want evil try Morbid Angel 😀

  459. Inceneco

    They associate it with Halloween because in the mid-1930s, a Hollywood film was made with Dracula and Frankenstien called “The Black Cat” and in the film, Dracula played this song. From there on, since he’s Dracula, one of the crucial points to Halloween, they associate this with Halloween. I hope this cleared some stuff up for you. 😉

  463. elxen oanizd

    I could do that: alsdkfja;sldkjf ;askdjf ;asdk j;askdjaskdhgaherterjsh;im aajdf a;sf jalsdfjajjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjsadlkfj kalsdj fsadjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjkSee? easy 🙂

  468. peter dop

    this genius plays it to fast,wonderfull though i think johann would disaprove.and pay attention to detail more i would say.nice work all toghether

  477. Marek Rus

    The best performance ever – played on the best ORGAN with 10 meter pipes! Show me a single organ with 10 meter pipes otherthan that! Magnificent!

  478. KGAMDJ

    Sean that was an outstanding performance! One of the best I’ve heard yet and performed from memory. Excellent!. The instrument, a compliment to your skill

  482. River Pharmz

    1975 and the movie Rollerball was the first place EVER I was exposed to Bach. Had no idea what it was at the time and took me years to figure it out,,,,To this day love the composition and you sir kick ass….

  483. GamerTheTurtle

    wow, such genius, this interpretation is very magnificent, you are truly a talented organist.

  484. Phil V

    One of the best performances I have heard of this piece. Too many versions are like clockwork and precision, whereas this performer knows just when to hold a chord just a little longer and add extra volume.

  493. xzyeee

    Yes. he is from Barbados too! I remember his performance of Widor Toccata at The St. Leonard’s Church in Barbados about fifteen years ago. The organ was electric and they had to turn off half the lights in the church. I don’t have to tell you that all heaven was in awe!

  500. Jon Jarrett

    fantastic! i am amazed at how complex this piece is and this guy is doing it all from memory. Simply WOW

  504. ZombiamaX

    Is it just me or does this organ lack some serious punch? Flawless interpretation don’t get me wrong, but this organ doesn’t uplift your soul like some others do, listen from 1:20 to 1:28, the last note… I don’t know maybe it’s just me.

  506. Rachegotter

    Compare this to the African drums and the Australian didgeridoo. Then don’t come tell me that European culture isn’t the finest the world has ever known.

  519. Marc LeJeune

    A shame that these pipe organs can only be found in Catholicist churches guess it’s the only place big enough install it, or afford it, that organ is an entire orchestra.

  522. russ lowe

    personally in my opinion Beethoven is the best composer of all time!!! I just think his stuff is way more impressive and unique! 3rd tempest movement and moonlight sonata part 3 blow my mind everytime i hear them

  525. ??????? ???????

    ??????? ?????? ??????! ?????? ??? ?? 7-? ?????? ?? ?????? ??? ???????? ??????? ?? ????? ??????. ?? ? ??? ? ??? – ??? ????? ???????!

  530. dex moritz

    i love to play this songpeople call me a prodigy because i know every classical music piece and am only 14-maggie(dex’s older sister)

  533. kakicheka Kuhn

    Congratulations Sean, for this balanced and bright interpretation of this very famous JS Bach organ ‘s work, Bach must be proud of you !! 🙂

  535. David Lawson

    Bach composed this when he was seventeen years old and publicly performed it at the age of twenty-three when he arrived at Weimar to serve his duties as court organist. While many people today align the piece with “horror movie soundtrack”, it is actually sacred music. Additionally, Bach was more than a composer of music. He was also an engineer of instruments, particularly the pipe organ which, at the time, was ever expanding. The piece was written specifically to “road test” organs to the most possible limits as they were becoming larger all throughout Northern Europe. The result of Bach’s “engineering” compositions for the organ is that they became the greatest pieces of keyboard music the world has known.

  540. TitusLinde

    Such a wonderful play on the organ !!! I really love your way of playing this song, for me a great expressiv performance. Thanks for sharing the video with us =)

  545. A'sa Dickens

    In order for him to learn this he would have had to play it over 100 times, by then you would have memorized the song

  546. Francisco Bravo

    ¿Por qué el hombre subió el Everest? porque el Everest estaba ahí. ¿Por qué un hombre de color interpreta a Bach con tal excelsitud? Simplemente porque es un hombre.

  552. Alberto Fernández Ginel

    Una de las interpretaciones que más me han gustado después de la de Karl Richter

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