| James McVinnie’s performance of Bach’s Clavier-Übung III reveals the collection’s fusion of technical mastery, theological depth, and emotional resonance, offering a clear and sensitive journey through one of the organ repertoire’s most profound and architecturally sublime achievements. PTC5187405 Bach Clavier-Übung PHYSICAL RELEASE DATE (STANDARD 2CD) January 2026 DIGITAL RELEASE DATE (STREAMING & HI-RES) 23 January 2026 AUDIO RESOLUTIONS 48k/24 Stereo 44,1k/16 Stereo DIGITAL BOOKLET (PDF) TECHNICAL BRILLIANCE AND SPIRITUAL DEPTH: MCVINNIE DELVES INTO CLAVIER-ÜBUNG III  James McVinnie brings Johann Sebastian Bach’s monumental Clavier-Übung III to life in a recording that captures both its technical brilliance and profound spiritual depth. Bach’s 1739 collection, his first published volume of organ music, is a masterful synthesis of compositional technique, theological meditation, and musical expression. With twenty-seven works, including chorale preludes, duets, and the majestic opening Prelude and closing Fugue, the collection is a rich musical exploration of Lutheran faith, the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, and the artistry of counterpoint at its most sublime. From the intricate contrapuntal pairs of the Catechism chorales to the flowing bass lines of Christ, unser Herr, zum Jordan kam, and the transcendent final Fugue in E flat, McVinnie navigates Bach’s towering architecture with clarity, precision, and sensitivity. This recording highlights the cosmopolitan textures, theological symbolism, and emotional resonance that make Clavier-Übung III a pinnacle of the organ repertoire. With insight drawn from decades of study and performance, McVinnie offers a journey into Bach’s musical universe, where faith, intellect, and artistry converge in works of extraordinary beauty and enduring power. “This album of Bach’s Clavier-übung III has been a long time coming. I learnt some of CÜ3 as a teenager, and first performed the whole collection in my early 20s. Recorded in the dead of winter 2017, and sat on my hard drive in a near completed state for the years since, it has become like an old friend. Most of my recordings to date have been in the sphere of contemporary music, often presenting works that have been written in collaboration with composer friends. For a long time I’ve felt the need to release a project that fills in the gaps, if you like; after all, Bach’s music forms a central part of my musical makeup that’s been there right from the start. And so this feels a deeply personal album. This is what I think music sounds like.”  Recorded on the 1702 Arp Schnitger Organ of Aa-kerk in Groningen, Netherlands. “It is universally acknowledged by all organists that the best stop on any organ is the acoustic it’s in. Whilst this is undoubtedly unfair to the noble art of organ building, it is certainly true that the Aa-kerk’s extraordinary reverberation enhances the sound of its organ with an unusual vibrancy (…) This recording sounds as you would hear it if you were sitting on a magic carpet right in front of the organ, forty feet in the air.” James McVinnie TRACK LIST  Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) Clavier-Übung III Disc 1 1 Praeludium pro Organo pleno BWV 552i 2 Kyrie, Gott Vater in Ewigkeit BWV 669 3 Christe, aller Welt Trost BWV 670 4 Kyrie, Gott heiliger Geist BWV 671 5 Kyrie, Gott Vater in Ewigkeit BWV 672 6 Christe, aller Welt Trost BWV 673 7 Kyrie, Gott heiliger Geist BWV 674 8 Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr BWV 675 9 Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr BWV 676 10 Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr BWV 677 Disc 2 1 Dies sind die heiligen zehen Gebot BWV 678 2 Dies sind die heiligen zehen Gebot BWV 679 3 Wir gläuben all an einen Gott BWV 680 4 Wir gläuben all an einen Gott BWV 681 5 Vater unser im Himmelreich BWV 682 6 Vater unser im Himmelreich BWV 683 7 Christ, unser Herr, zum Jordan kam BWV 684 8 Christ, unser Herr, zum Jordan kam BWV 685 9 Aus teifer Not schrei ich zu dir BWV 686 10 Aus teifer Not schrei ich zu dir BWV 687 11 Jesus Christus, unser Heiland, der von uns den Zorn Gottes wandt BWV 688 12 Jesus Christus, unser Heiland BWV 689 13 Duetto I 14 Duetto II 15 Duetto III 16 Duetto IV 17 Fuga a 5 con pedale pro Organo pleno BWV 552ii  Through his boundless approach to music making, innovative programming and captivating musicianship, James McVinnie has carved out a unique career as an organist and keyboard player. He made his PENTATONE debut in January 2025 with the album Dreamcatcher, described as “bold and imaginative” (Choir & Organ, 5 stars) and “hypnotic, shimmering” (Limelight, Editor’s Choice). WEBSITE  |
Pentatone – James McVinnie presents Bach’s Clavier-Übung III. To be released in January.
