"Mattheus-Final" from 'Bach's Memento"

This is the final movement of Widor's rather extraordinary set of Bach's reimaginings written to inaugurate a new organ in the Salle du Jeu de Paume of the Conservatoire Américain, Fontainebleau. No lesser critic than the composer Joseph Bonnet stated that "some noble pieces of Bach are mercilessly deformed and gain nothing from these tasteless treatments".

I hope that when you hear Widor's "orchestration for organ" of the closing chorus Wir setzen uns mit Tränen nieder', 'We sit down in tears/And call to thee in the tomb' from the Matthew Passion you might not share Bonnet's opinion.

I chose the glorious Nancy organ not so much for it's grandeur and wall of sound, but rather for the cavernous acoustic in which it resides (so brilliantly captured) and the way in which the Recit can disappear.

Registering this piece is tricky in that Widor just directs fonds et ranches 16,8,4 on Recit and Grand Orgue and then leaves you to it. I hope that my registration scheme will be agreeable!