UPDATED 02/05/2010

FEATURED INSTRUMENT CONCERT   Your support is necessary to continue this service. Even a small donation will help. F. A. Mehmel Village Church Organ, St. Andreas Church, Nehringen Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany (1868) - Samples by Prof. Helmut Maier Reger, Max: Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr, Op. 67, No. 1 Chorale in the pedal. Manual motives occasionally derive from the chorale. Registration: GT Bourdon 16' + Gedact 8' + Viola di Gamba 8' + Octave 4'; PD Subbass 16' + Gedactbass 8 + Violon 8'. [1:15] HW1 Reger, Max: Alles ist an Gottes Segen, Op. 67, No. 2 Triplet rhythm throughout (Hinterwerk full; PD Subbas 16' + Violon 8'), Chorale in the Tenor on Hauptwerk (Viola di Gamba 8' + Principal 8' + Rohrfloete 4'). [0:50] HW1 Reger, Max: Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir, Op. 67, No. 3 Played first on Flauto Amabile 8' + Flauto Amabile 4' on the Hinterwerk, the lyrical accompaniment makes a good foil for the Chorale sounded in the Pedal on the Gedact 8' + Violon 8'. As suggested in the score, the repeat is somewhat louder on the Hauptwerk Gedact 8' + Rohrfloete 4'. [2:6] HW1 Reger, Max: Aus meines Herzens Grunde, Op. 67, No. 4 A quasi-fugal introduction in the two lower manual voices and pedal (based on the Chorale) in eighth notes gives way to faster notes and syncopations while the Chorale sounds sturdily in half notes in the soprano. The organ is reduced slightly for the repeat. Registration: Haupwerk: Principal 8' + Viola di Gamba 8' + Octave 4' + Progressio Harmonica 2-3 Fach, coupled (not for repeat) to Full Hinterwerk, with Full Pedal beneath. [2:1] HW1 Reger, Max: Christus, der ist mein Leben, Op. 67, No. 5 The Chorale is ornamented and played on the Hauptwerk (Principal 8 + Viola di Gamba 8'+ Gedact 8') until the very end, where the last two notes move to the Hinterwerk (Full). Pedal is also full, but not coupled [1:17] HW1 Reger, Max: Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott, Op. 67, No. 6 The famous chorale is prominent in eighth notes in three manual parts, then later appearing in quarter notes in the soprano, doubled for the last phrase as is this composer's wont. Registration: Hauptwerk Principal 8' + Octave 4' + Progressio Harmonica 2-3 Fach coupled to Hinterwerk Rohrfloete 4; Pedal Subbas 16' + Violon 8' coupled to the Hauptwerk. [2:13] HW1 Reger, Max: Dir, dir, Jehovah, will ich singen!, Op. 67, No. 7 A descending minor 7th interval marks the first 3 entrances, though it is never heard again. The Chorale is soloed out against the Full Hinterwerk and then played entirely on the Hauptwerk (Principal 8' + Viola di Gamba 8' + Rohrfloete 4') with a meandering pedal (Subbas 16' + Violon 8' coupled to Hauptwerk) which persists to the end. [1:48] HW1 Reger, Max: Erschienen ist der herrlich' Tag, Op. 67, No. 8 Easter Chorale appears in the Pedal (Full, coupled to Hauptwerk) with impassioned or even conflicted motives swirling above (HW Bourdon 16' + Principal 8' + Octave 4' + Progressio Harmonica 2-3 Fach). [2:5] HW1 Reger, Max: Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend', Op. 67, No. 9 Gentle rocking motion with Chorale in the soprano voice. Registration: Hauptwerk Principal 8' + Rohrfloete 4' coupled to Gull Hinterwerk; Pedal Full coupled to Hauptwerk. [1:22] HW1 Reger, Max: Es ist das Heil uns kommen her, Op. 67, No. 10 Chorale in soprano, thrillingly doubled at end. Registration: Hauptwerk Principal 8' + Octave 4'; Pedal Subbas16' + Violon 8'. [1:29] HW1 Reger, Max: Freu' dich sehr, O meine Seele, Op. 67, No. 11 Chorale on Hauptwerk (Principal 8' + Viola di Gamba 8' + Octave 4') with two voices on Hinterwerk (Geigen Principal 8' + Flauto Amabile 4') and one on the Pedal (Full, uncoupled). When all hands revert to the Hauptwerk and the Chorale is doubled in octaves, there is a surprisingly effective buildup from such a small organ. [1:49] HW1 Reger, Max: Gott des Himmels und der Erden, Op. 67, No. 12 The chorale is sounded on the Great in the treble register (GT: Gedact 8' + Viola di Gamba 8') and later repeated on the Hinterwerk (Flauto Amabiles 8' and 4') with considerable decoration, the accompanying motives are based on the chorale. For clarity and variety, the Pedal is sounded on the Violon 8'. [1:29] HW1 Reger, Max: Herr, wie du willst, so shick's mit mir, Op. 67, No. 13 The Chorale starts in the soprano of Hinterwerk (Flautos Amabile 8' + 4'), then emerges in a lyrically decorated fashion on the Hauptwerk (Gedact 8'), then reverts to the Hinterwerk but preserves the decoration. Pedal uses only the Gedactbas 8'. [2:11] HW1 Reger, Max: Herzlich tut mich verlangen, Op. 67, No. 14 Very traditional compositional technique is used here, only the doubling of the chorale in octaves, the rich harmonic vocabulary, dynamics and stong ritard would give away its German romantic origins. Registration: HW Gedact 8' coupled to Hinterwerk Flauto Amabile 8', PD Subbas 16' coupled to Hauptwerk. [2:7] HW1 Reger, Max: Jauchz, Erd, und Himmel, juble hell, Op. 67, No. 15 The chorale in the Pedal is more widely known to American churchgoers as "I'll praise my maker while I've breath." The tempo indication translates "Extremely Lively." The registration instructions are explicit but very strange: the 16' register is to be added and subtracted throughout, in very awkward places. Manual parts played on the Hauptwerk (Principal 8' + Octave 4' + Progressio Harmonica 2-3 Fach) with the Mixture withdrawn for the repeat; Pedal throughout is Subbas 16' + Violon 8' + HW/PD coupler. An attempt at Reger's final "Organum Plenum" (Full Organ) is made with the addition of the Hinterwerk Geigen Principal 8'. [3:41] HW1