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    JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH: THE LITURGICAL YEAR

    Marcussen & Son Organ / St. Stefanuschurch / Moerdijk (Noord-Brabant, The Netherlands) (1965) - Samples by Ariaan Hoogendijk

    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 599Download View Lyrics
    A brief and heartfelt setting of the Advent hymn. [1:8] Midi file available. HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Gott, durch deine Gute, BWV 600Download View Lyrics
    Also known as Gottes Sohn ist Kommen, which appear as the lyrics. This is one of the few pieces with registrational instructions by Bach himself. "Man. Princip. 8.F. und Ped. Tromp. 8 Fuss." The Phantom Organist has included, but added to, these sounds, [1:27] Midi file available. HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Herr Christ der ein'ge Gottes Sohn, BWV 601Download View Lyrics
    Charming and cheerful setting of an Advent chorale. Reference to the Morningstar in the text makes this also appropriate for Epiphany. [1:26] Midi file available. HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Lob sei dem allmächtigen Gott, BWV 602Download View Lyrics
    The tune is based on the plainchant "Conditor alme siderum," still sung in churches today as "Creator of the Stars of Night." [0:57] Midi file available. HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Puer natus in Bethlehem, BWV 603Download View Lyrics
    Haunting setting of a Christmas chorale from the Little Organ Book (Das Orgelbüchlein) or Liturgical Year. [1:21] Midi file available. HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Gelobet Seist Du, Jesu Christ, BWV 604Download View Lyrics
    Short setting of a German Christmas chorale from the Liturgical Year. [1:21] Midi file available. HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Der Tag, Der Ist So Freudenreich, BWV 605Download View Lyrics
    Christmas Chorale with motives of joy permeating the accompaniment. The chorale melody alternates between the Swell Trumpet and Oboe with added Cornet. [1:51] HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Vom Himmel Hoch, BWV 606Download View Lyrics
    A brief but joyous setting of the Christmas chorale "From Heaven on High." The melody is very slightly adorned, and the pedal has a step motive that to some expresses faith. [0:48] Midi file available. HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Vom Himmel Kam Der Engel Schaar, BWV 607Download View Lyrics
    A rather mystical depiction of angels descending and ascending at the time of Christ's birth. [2:0] Midi file available. HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: In Dulci Jubilo, BWV 608Download View Lyrics
    A gentle canonic treatment of a sweet Christmas chorale. [1:23] Midi file available. HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Lobt Gott, Ihr Christen, Allzugleich, BWV 609Download View Lyrics
    The shortest piece of any I've sequenced, this Prelude expresses joyous praise with the chorale in the top part, accompanied by animated scale groups in alternating contrary and parallel motion. [0:45] Midi file available. HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Jesu, meine Freude, BWV 610Download View Lyrics
    This Prelude is dominated by a motive in the bass which is a modified version of what Schweitzer calls the "Beatific Peace Motive." The composition is filled with an intimate charm and stateliness. From The Liturgical Year. [2:27] HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Christum Wir Sollen Loben Schon, BWV 611Download View Lyrics
    Bach at his most mysterious, the chorale is in the alto voice, the pedal is constantly descending, the other two voices form an arabesque of unusual quiet joy. The words dwell on the mystery of Christ's incarnation, and its farflung consequences. [1:58] Midi file available. HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Wir Christenleut, BWV 612Download View Lyrics
    Bach in an extroverted Christmas mood. [1:44] Midi file available. HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Helft Mir Gott's Güte Preisen, BWV 613Download View Lyrics
    One of the three preludes in the Orgelbüchlein devoted to the passing of the secular New Year. [1:16] Midi file available. HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Das Alte Jahr Vergangen Ist, BWV 614Download View Lyrics
    This is a sad and expressive farewell to the secular old year. The solo is on the Rugpositiv Krummhorn 8'. [1:40] Midi file available. HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: In Dir Ist Freude, BWV 615Download View Lyrics
    A bell-like motive in the pedal emphasizes the idea of ringing in the New Year, but bursts of joy are appropriate any time. A full complement of couplers is available on this version of the Marcussen samples, enabling several sonic layers. [2:36] HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Mit Fried' und Freud' ich fahr' dahin, BWV 616Download View Lyrics
    A perfect expression of the Nunc Dimittis, part of Das Orgelbüchlein (aka The Liturgical Year). Known in the Anglican liturgy as The Song of Simeon, the text has a bit of the German Pietism which contrasts the travails of everyday life with the tranquility of death. One of the many gems contained in this collections of preludes. This version has been considerably smoothed out and slowed down from previous interpretations, and several note overlap problems have been fixed. [2:26] Midi file available. HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Herr Gott, Nun Schleuss den Himmel Auf, BWV 617Download View Lyrics
    The chorale is presented in two voices, the tenor spins a restless web, the pedal vacillates between octave syncopations and thirds. This is one of two chorales classified by Bach under "Nunc Dimittis," or the Song of Simeon, describing the condition near the end of life when the burdens of being human outweigh its benefits. [2:23] Midi file available. HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: O Lamm Gottes, Unschuldig, BWV 618Download View Lyrics
    An amazing, trancelike piece, based on a Lenten Chorale and utilizing a pervasive grief motive accompanying a canon at the fifth. [3:17] Midi file available. HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Christe, Du Lamm Gottes, BWV 619Download View Lyrics
    This is the sublime sort of music that some call "just a bunch of scales." But how artfully these scales are arranged with the chorale into a serenely haunting landscape. [1:8] Midi file available. HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Christus, der uns selig macht, BWV 620Download View Lyrics
    Intensely chromatic double canon on a Passion text, this piece describes Christ's suffering and torment with some tortured harmonies. [2:3] Midi file available. HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Wir Danken Dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 623Download View Lyrics
    A joyful song of thanksgiving for the Passion of Christ. [1:2] Midi file available. HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Da Jesus an dem Kreuze Stund, BWV 621Download View Lyrics
    This exquisite setting expresses the universal significance of the seven last words of Christ on the cross. [1:25] Midi file available. HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: O Mensch, Bewein' dein' Sünde Gross, BWV 622Download View Lyrics
    The Phantom Organist as a young organ student had occasion to play this piece at St. John's Episcopal Church for the funeral of an important University of Southern California dignitary, and the procession arrived near the front just as the music slowed for the dramatic ending, an electrifying but chilling convergence. The Chorale is sounded on the Solo Cornet with accompaniment on Manual and Pedal Flues. [4:47] Midi file available. HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Hilf Gott, Dass Mir's Gelinge, BWV 624Download View Lyrics
    The chorale is a close canon at the fifth which gives an eerie effect, and the wandering accompaniment in the left hand and pedal seem to express the aimlessness of the unassisted human in singing the praise of God, which is the main thrust of the text. [1:40] HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Christ lag in Todesbanden, BWV 625Download View Lyrics
    A voluptuous setting of the Easter chorale, from Das Orgelbüchlein, or the Liturgical Year. [1:59] HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Jesus Christus, Unser Heiland, BWV 626Download View Lyrics
    Short grand Easter prelude with intense rhythmic drive. Bach packed a lot of power into a very small amount of space here. [1:9] HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Christ Ist Erstanden, BWV 627Download View Lyrics
    Festive three part setting of an Easter chorale from Bach's Liturgical Year. For [3:53] HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Erstanden Ist Der Heil'ge Christ, BWV 628Download View Lyrics
    Upward (and downward) surging scale passages join with upward (and downward) skips of a fourth (or fifth) create a satisfying swirl. [0:58] HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Erschienen Ist der Herrliche Tag, BWV 629Download View Lyrics
    Canon at the octave in the Huvudvaerk Trompette and Pedal, this short Easter Prelude has an infectiousness bubbliness. [1:1] HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Heut' Triumphiret Gottes Sohn, BWV 630Download View Lyrics
    The last of 6 Easter chorales from Bach's Liturgical Year. The bell-like motive in the Pedal imparts a triumphant exuberance. [1:32] HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Komm Gott Schöpfer, Heiliger Geist, BWV 631Download View Lyrics
    A hymn to the Holy Ghost as creative inspiration. For Hauptwerk Virtual Pipe Organ. [0:50] HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend', BWV 632Download View Lyrics
    A cheerful setting with pedal presenting the chorale in dimunition. Both are free settings of the melody, but not identical, so it is not a canon. The background is build upon the three opening notes of the Chorale, which is a triad - a technique later known as arpeggio, because of its harp-like quality. [1:17] HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier, BWV 633Download View Lyrics
    The chorale is sounded in canon at the interval of a fifth, separated by only two beats. This is one of two versions from the Liturgical Year collection. [1:11] HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier (Dist.), BWV 634Download View Lyrics
    The second setiing of this beloved chorale is labeled "distinctius." I have used the same registration for each, just a little bolder for the chorale and some different ornament for this version. The differences are subtle indeed. [1:11] HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Dies sind die heil'gen zehn Gebot', BWV 635Download View Lyrics
    From the Orgelbüchlein, this closely imitative piece is a short but grand treatment of the chorale associated with the Ten Commandments. [1:33] HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Vater Unser im Himmelreich, BWV 636Download View Lyrics
    From The Liturgical Year (Das Orgelbüchlein), a project of which Bach completed 45 of his projected 164 short chorale preludes for the church year, this beautiful and intimate setting of the Lord's Prayer is dominated by a four-note motive (A-E-G-F) and its inversion (A-E-C#-D), indeed one or the other appears in nearly every beat. [1:26] HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Durch Adams Fall ist ganz verderbt, BWV 637Download View Lyrics
    One of the strangest chromatic treatments the Phantom Organist has ever conveyed, and yet it's just as Bach wrote it. The pedal skips in sevenths (depicting Adam's fall?) under the tortured chromatic changes, and it appears to change keys abruptly several times at the end (disorientation at being thrown out of Paradise?). [2:3] HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Es ist das Heil (Gottes Sohn ist Kommen), BWV 638Download View Lyrics
    Exuberant Christmas Chorale from the Little Organ Book for full plenum. [1:8] HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Ich ruf' zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 639Download View Lyrics
    A simple but elegant trio for oboe and flute stops. [1:44] HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: In Dich hab' Ich gehoffet, Herr, BWV 640Download View Lyrics
    Short and serene setting of a hopeful chorale from Das Orgelbüchlein, a.k.a. The Liturgical Year. [1:10] HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Wenn wir in höchsten nöthen sein, BWV 641Download View Lyrics
    Highly ornamented chorale over subdued background. Another depressing Lenten text describing a place some of us find ourselves in from time to time. [1:36] HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten, BWV 642Download View Lyrics
    Motives of joy and devotion comingle in this energetic setting for the Hauptwerk Virtual Pipe Organ. The text recommends an intuitive spiritual approach to life rather than trying to get your way all the time. [1:42] HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Alle Menschen müssen sterben, BWV 643Download View Lyrics
    A tranquil acceptance of the concept that "all are mortal." From The Liturgical Year. [1:30] HW1
    Bach, Johann Sebastian: Ach wie nichtig, ach wie flüchtig, BWV 644Download View Lyrics
    The last chorale from Das Orgelbüchlein, this is a breezy portrayal of how fleeting life is. The flowing of waters, the drifting of clouds and something unspeakably futile about man's ascent and waning, scholars have read all that into this tiny piece. [0:51] HW1