The pieces on this disc originate from an extremely exciting discovery from 1985—a manuscript anthology of chorale preludes, compiled by Johann Gottfried Neumeister in the last decade of the 18th century and identified as containing over 30 previously unknown chorale preludes dating from Bach's formative years.

There is tremendous variety and imagination in this collection and these little-known pieces surely deserve to be more widely appreciated, hence this recording as part of Christopher Herrick's complete survey of Bach's organ works for Hyperion. They offer a fascinating insight into the development of the young composer and also give glimpses of the man he was to become.

All of the music on this album is also available as part of the specially priced box set Bach: The Complete Organ Works: ‘Let me say without hesitation that Herrick’s performances are models of clarity, accuracy, precision and musicality … this is a complete Bach that has plenty of character and verve and which would bear repeated listening’ (Choir & Organ).