The basic repertoire of the 45 choral preludes of the Orgelbüchlein is hard to get by for any organist. Edited by Sven Hiemke, the volume offers the best possible prerequisites for everyday use. The musical text is as faithful to the sources as possible, and it preserves Bach's graphic idiosyncrasies in the beaming of eighth notes and sixteenth notes. Furthermore, the chorales are reproduced on three staves, which is fully in keeping with the practice of the Bach era but not with the source, however, since the composer himself notated the pieces of the Orgelbüchlein on two staves, either for reasons of economy or for lack of space. Early versions and anonymous arrangements, which should encourage organists to explore this repertoire in greater depth, are provided online.
