UPDATED 06/08/2008

FEATURED INSTRUMENT CONCERT   If you enjoy this concert, please donate by clicking on the button to the left! Gottfried Silbermann Organ, Reinhardtsgrimma / Sachsen, Germany (1731) - Samples by Prof. Helmut Maier Weckmann, Matthias: Praeambulum Primi toni à 5 Sustained chords interspersed with florid passages and cross-relations as noted in the Mutopia Project score, available here. [3:9] (A=465) HW1 Buxtehude, Dietrich: Praeludium in A minor, BuxWV 153 Plenty of virtuosity to go around, especially at the end with some bravura pedal passages and spectacular chords in contrary motion. [5:52] (A=465) HW1 Sweelinck, Jan Pieterszoon: Erbarm dich mein, o Herre Gott Spectacular in its own way, and a great vehicle for showing off the Reinhardtsgrimma samples, this set of six variations opens with a short fughetta on the Hauptwerk (Prinzipal 8' and Okava 4'), flowing onto the Hinterwerk (Gedacktes 8' and Rohrfleute 4') for Variation 2, where the manual figuration is quicker-paced and the Chorale is sounded on the beautiful Pedal Oktaven Baß 8'. The third variation uses both the inverted and regular forms of the Chorale as a building block, with Oktava 2'added to the Hauptwerk, and the Pedal changed to the sturdy Posaunen Baß 16', which, unlike many 16' reeds, is quite sufficient by itself. The fourth variation flows directly from the third, but the Hauptwerk is supplemented by the Nassat 3', and the Pedal by the Oktaven Baß 8'. Variation 5 is marked for two keyboards, with the left hand playing on the Hinterwerk (the Oktava 2' added) and a somewhat ornamented Chorale sounds on the Hauptwerk Qvintadena 8', Spizfleute 4' and Nassat 3'). Variation 6 continues the two manual treatment with Hauptwerk Prinzipal 8', Oktava 4', Oktava 2' and Cornett 3 Fach displaying increased ornamentation, and the rich sounding Zimbeln 2 Fach is added to the Hinterwerk for the left hand part. The piece ends with an optional pedal support for the final cadence. [9:34] (A=465) HW1 Sweelinck, Jan Pieterszoon: Variations on Mein junges Leben hat ein End' Six variations on a secular song. [5:53] (A=465) HW1 Bach, Johann Sebastian: Schmücke Dich, BWV 654 This prelude is based on the communion hymn, "Deck Thyself, My Soul, With Gladness." Registration: Pedal Sub Baß 16 + Oktaven Baß 8; Hauptwerk: Principal 8 + Oktava 4 + Octava 2 + Zymbeln 2 Fach; Hinterwerk: Gedackt 8 + Rohrfleute 4 + 2 Oktava; for the repeat the Hauptwerk Principal and Oktava are replaced by the Rohrfleute 8 and Spizfleute 4, and the Hinterwerk Oktava 2 is withdrawn; after the repeat the former registration is engaged once more. [7:11] (A=465) HW1 Walther, Johann Gottfried: Aus tiefer Noth schrei' ich zu dir Four voice fugal writing on trhe Hinterwerk using the alternate tune for this chorale. Ornamentation extends even unto the pedal, coupled to the Hauptwerk. The four ascending dynamic levels could represent ascension "out of the depths." [2:38] (A=465) HW1 Krebs, Johann Ludwig: Fuga in C minor, Br II:10 Attractive and recognizable fugue subject divided into 4 perhaps arbitrary sections, depending on whether the pedal was at play or not, plus an extra loud coda. [5:45] (A=465) HW1 Pachelbel, Johann: Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hält, 2nd Setting Three voices on one manual (Hauptwerk Principal 8' + Octava 4' echoed on Hinterwerk Gedacktes 8' + Rohrfleute 4' + Octava 2') with short pedal passage (Subbass 16' + I-P) at end. Slow sounding of the Chorale in soprano as usual. [2:14] (A=465) HW1 Bach, Johann Sebastian: Christ lag in Todesbanden, BWV 695 Fantasia for three voices, Chorale in the alto, all sensitively played on the Hauptwerk Prinzipal 8 + Spizfleute 4 + Oktava 2 (Repeat on Hinterwerk Gedacktes 8 + Rohrfleute 4 + Qvinta 1 1/2). [3:45] (A=465) HW1 Buxtehude, Dietrich: Praeludium in E minor, BuxWV 142 Five major sections, the first two in Common Meter, ending with a very "blue" note that ushers in some heavy chromaticism (made even more colorful by the Silbermann tuning) in 3/2. The meter switches to Common again just 2 measures before a loud transitional passage which ushers in a delightfully bouncy 12/8 motiv that continues to the end. [8:3] (A=465) HW1 Bach, Johann Sebastian: An Wasserflüssen Babylon, BWV 653 The third of Bach's 18 Chorale Preludes known as the Leipzig, written near the end of Bach' life, is a setting of Psalm 137, "By the Waters of Babylon." Registration - Hauptwerk: Rohrfleute 8+Spizfleute 4; Hinterwerk (chorale): Gedacktes 8+Rohrfleute 4+Nassat 3+Tertia 2; Pedal: Subbass 16+Oktaven Bass 8. [5:0] (A=465) Midi file available. HW1