UPDATED 06/08/2008

FEATURED INSTRUMENT CONCERT   If you enjoy this concert, please donate by clicking on the button to the left! Casavant, Opus 3246 (1975) at Grace Lutheran Church, Champaign, Illinois - Samples by Brett Milan Buxtehude, Dietrich: Nun bitten wir den Heiligen Geist, BuxWV 209 Lightly ornamented chorale tune played on a cornet combination and flutes, with a barely perceptible tremulant. The calm prayer-like mode is occassionally interrupted by fiery outbursts. [1:51] HW1 Grigny, Nicolas De: Ave Maris Stella, I Heavily ornamented manual parts with chorale sounded at 8 and 4 in the pedal. [1:13] Midi file available. HW1 Bach, Johann Sebastian: Allein Gott in der Höh, BWV 663 A majestic 3/2 accompaniment surrounding a heroically ornamented chorale which is sounded forth on the Hauptwerk Trumpet. [6:51] HW1 Buxtehude, Dietrich: Ciacona in C minor, BuxWV 159 Unlike Buxtehude's more famous Passacaglio in D minor, the pedal theme does not repeat throughout the entire piece, since a ciacona relies more on a harmonic progression than the constant repetition of a single theme in the bass line. [6:42] HW1 Bach, Johann Sebastian: Fugue in G Major, BWV 576 Though some doubt this fugue was really written by J. S. Bach, it is nonetheless a perky little item. To keep things lively the Phantom does a certain amount of good-natured stop pulling. [5:2] HW1 Bach, Johann Sebastian: Prelude and Fugue in C Major, BWV 531 The Prelude opens with a fanfare-like pedal cadenza which is imitated in the manuals and punctuated with strong 6- and 7-note chords finally ending with some bravura recitative. The Fugue procedures regularly enough until the pedal entrance, where there are just some octave leaps instead of the subject. After soprano and alto entrances, the pedal finally sounds the fugue subject, which is tossed around a few times playfully but never really enters on its own again. The fugue ends with the same kind of rapid recitativo figuration as the Prelude. [6:45] HW1 Krebs, Johann Ludwig: Es ist gewißlich an der Zeit, English Horn & Organ Rather elegant concerted chorale for sampled English Horn and organ. "Studio mix." [2:54] HW1 Bach, Johann Sebastian: Allein Gott in der Höh, BWV 662 The first of three settings of the tune based on the plainsong Gloria in Excelsis. This is probably Bach's most florid and esoteric setting in the entire collection of The Eighteen Chorales. The solo is played on the Great Cornet. [5:38] HW1 Bach, Johann Sebastian: Trio Sonata No. 3, BWV 527 One of the most popular of the 6 Trios. The bouncy Andante modulates frequently and alternates with a second melody in easily recognizable sections. The lyrical Adagio e dolce makes full use of suspensions and is repeated with totally different registrations. A bold and pointedly rhythmic theme forms the first subject of the Vivace followed by a series of triplets which later accompany the first theme, together modulating merrily through many keys until D minor is reached again for the repeat of the entire first section. [13:48] HW1 Bach, Johann Sebastian: Prelude in A minor, BWV 569 Although sequences are repeated endlessly, the tortured chromaticism at the end makes this an unusual piece. The Phantom Organist has tried to vary registrations and phrasings to preserve interest throughout. [4:54] HW1 Bach, Johann Sebastian: Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565 The most famous of Bach's solo organ pieces, the one that begins every organ CD, evokes pictures of madmen flailing an organ (or an orchestra), without which the complete organ works of Johann Sebastian Bach would certainly be incomplete. Actually, it is a beautifully crafted, stunningly dramatic statement. [7:33] HW1