This deserves zero stars.

His fresh apoproach appeals to some Organilve listeners. Watch the ratings on this track!

A little too far off the chart for me.

Certainly a different take, definitely fresh. Back in the day (when anything not "authentic" was a mortal sin) I would have snubbed my nose at this. Now, I enjoy it for what it is...and I do enjoy it. Fox wanted to bring Bach to a new audience. maybe

my only complaint is the lowest notes sound like crap on this virtual organ and i'm not shocked because i know for a fact that the instrument can only play cleanly down to about 23hz. the lowest note on a 32' stop resonate at 16hz so all the lowest notes on this organ sound horrible like i'm listening to some cheap computer subwoofer flapping around and distorting. trinity could fix this but it would take a little time and money to do it right the rest of the organ from 30hz on up sounds pretty good oh and Cameron is a genius !!!!!!!!!!

this is actually more fun to watch. it's on youtube. watch cameron's hands. he's just amazing. a true virtuoso. go to youtube and search: "Bach Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565, Cameron Carpenter" that's the exact title of the video. if you love cameron, this is a must see video

The lowest pedal notes are produced by a variable pitch fan (thanks to aerospace people) which usually requires building modifications in addition.

Silly. Just plain silly. All it needs now is a drum track and a troupe of clowns. Utterly without merit.

If most OrganLive listeners dislike these tracks... who keeps requesting them? Not me for one!

It is an illogical mixture of the baroque and the contemporary music. It destroys Bach's expressivity.

ick.

He is what he is and that's all that he is.

Such raw talent coupled with agility and dexterity! wish there was another recording or two in the library!

I'm going to comment on the artist's performance,composition,and organ separately. The artist is a virtuoso,Liszt,a genius. The organ is the failing in the whole picture,though. It just sounds wrong to me.

Dexterity to spare! Cameron, you've done your homework as few others have. I don't hear a "love song" here, but you're the composer; you may name your songs/pieces as you well please. It seems to me to be the opening piece to a new musical.

Wandering ramblings...

Ghastly ensemble sounds and much sloppier than I expected

I just don't see the creativity that Mr. Carpenter has shown in other interpretations.

Not fond of the interpretation. A bit too "physical" and rushed. Gotta admire his capability however. Organ sounds pretty good for a digie.

sorry, only a stunt, without any artistically insights - so, where is the sense??

Well I'm shocked - and very pleased to hear that he can actually do it. It's very nice to discover a real and thoughtful musician underneath the layers of showy glitter.

this was done at Trinity on the M & O digital organ. people say it doesn't sound like a real pipe organ but it does sound like one to me especially on this piece it really depends on which stops are being used. Cameron really shows what this organ can do in this piece as far as it's tonality by the way this sounds even better off the CD over a high-quality sound system

Awful. What a ridiculous mess. Chucking in a few quotes doesn't make it any more clever, either. Oh Cameron - so, SO much talent - but when will you get some taste?

It is impossible...

INTERPRETATION... is that a concept some individuals out here do not get? I fully believe that expecting music to be played the same way over and over and over shows a serious lack of real talent. I'll say it again music is about putting your SELF into it, adding your interpretation... geesh some people are just never happy.

one of my favorite pasttimes is to find the music that the snobs abhor and then request it over and over and over - yes, a few of the tracks in the library are "altrocious" but the access to so many kinds of music and interpretations is just remarkable - why can't we appreciate the artistry for what it is and get off our high horses?

I don't think it would be snobbish to refer to the over-painting of the Mona Lisa in fluorescent colours and being given a beard and glasses as "tasteless". It's still "an interpretation", but I doubt many would applaud it as demonstrating thoughtful care, craftsmanship and skill. Thus it is with music.

Obviously the analogy is imperfect. I'm referring to an interpretation of the author's work so extreme, so off-the-wall as to be crass and debasing. Substitute a copy of the Mona Lisa if it helps, defaced as described, being offered as a unique and skilled interpretation. It's still tasteless and without merit.

LOL, how silly. And removing your comment I answered? Personally I just listen to something else for a while but you use music as a weapon? Really now... Anyway, this will go round in circles until it's moderated out so I tip my hat and say farewell.

it is just so much fun to torment the purists - this piece makes me chuckle for so many reasons - i can see the smiles on cameron's face as he plays it and the grimaces on the faces of those who think it is just such blasphemy - at least we have people talking and listenership is up - how can there be only an average of 100 people listening worldwide though?

What *was* he thinking? Awful!

I saw Cameron Carpenter perform a concert on the newly-restored Aeolian organ at Longwood Gardens. While most of the pieces were played from memory, his own composition was not, and he made a comment to the audience about not being able to remember his own music. This CD track gives the same impression of his compositions - filled with much color and gusto, yet lacking in compositional coherence and ultimately not memorable.

he was probably thinking, what can i do to piss off Brian over at organlive

I'm thinking there are these Cameron Carpenter fanatics that ONLY request CC's 18 tracks over and over again. I would think that they would purchase the two CD's heard on this site, place them in their CD players and play them 24/7. Because that's what they really want! CC 24/7! But for some reason, they have this morbid insistence on requesting these 18 tracks repeatedly, to mostly the great displeasure of the majority of OrganLive listeners. Extremely sad.