UPDATED 03/18/2010

FEATURED INSTRUMENT CONCERT   Your support is necessary to continue this service. Even a small donation will help. Carl Schäfer organ at Frauenkirche / Neckarsulm, Germany (1895) - Samples by Gernot Wurst Dupré, Marcel: Antiphon II, Opus 18, No. 2 Marked "Tranquillo" and consisting of mostly 3 voice chords with gentle syncopations and many held notes in the pedal. This expressive piece starts on HW Gedeckt 8' (withdrawn at end) coupled to SW Cello 16' + Geigen 8' (later replaced by Salicional 8') + Schwebung 8'; PD Bordun 16' + Cello 16' + Octavbass 8' (later replaced by SW/PD coupler). [1:54] HW1 Reger, Max: Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr, Op. 135a, No. 2 Marked "Sehr ruhig" (very restful), this spare setting could be used by an organist to introduce a congregational hymn. Registration: Manual Gedeckt 8' + Salicional 8' +Fugara 4' (Principal 8' added near end); Pedal Subbass 16' + Pedalkoppel. This track uses the original version without mechanical action noise. [1:37] HW1 Bach, Johann Sebastian: Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten, BWV 647 The Schübler chorale, this transcription is from the fourth verse of Cantata 93, where Soprano and Alto sing the lilting upper part over a basso continuo, violins and violas carry the chorale. Played on SW and PD thus: SW Gedeckt 8' + Fugara 4'; HW Fugara 4' + Harmoniefloete 4' coupled to PD Choralbass 4'. Repeat: SW Geigen 8' + Salicional 4'; HW Harmoniefloete 4'; PD same. After repeat: SW Geigen 8' + Gedeckt 8' + Fugara 4' + Salicional 4'; ; HW Fugara 4' + Harmoniefloete 4' + Hochoctav 2'; PD same. [2:41] HW1 Pachelbel, Johann: Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein, 1st Setting Straightforward fughetta in 4 voices, the fourth played on the pedal. Registration: Manual Principal 8' + Salicional 8' + Fugara 4'; Pedal Subbass 16' + Pedalkoppel. [1:28] HW1 Franck, César: Andantino quasi allegretto in E minor This wistful piece has been rearranged to include a pedal part, and the melody, which was marked to be on 16' stops, still sounds out clearly. Registration: Principal 8' + Gedeckt 8' + Salicional 8'; the Subbass 16' in the pedal sometimes reinforces, sometimes replaces manual bass line. [1:33] HW1 Brahms, Johannes: Herzliebster Jesu The Chorale is in the soprano, but somewhat disguised with passing notes. [2:25] HW1 Vierne, Louis: Idylle mélancolique, Op. 31, No. 8 A reassuring rhythmic motiv alternates with slithery chromaticism--it sounds more wistful than melancholy to me. Registration: HW Principal 8' + Fugara 4'; SW Gedeckt 8' + Salicional 8' + Schwebung 8' + Salicional 4'; PD Subbass 16' + Gedecktbass 8' + HW/PD coupler; when SW is playing alone PD is reduced to Subbass 16' + SW/PD coupler. This track uses the extended version without mechanical action noise. [3:30] Midi file available. HW1 Pachelbel, Johann: Es woll' uns Gott genädig sein Two settings, both for manual alone. Registration for Setting 1: Gedackt 8' + Oktave Koppel (last note Pedal Subbass 16' + Pedal Koppel); Setting 2: Principal 8' + Salicional 8' + Fugara 4' (last 2 measures adds Pedal Subbass 16'). Uses original sample set. [2:24] HW1 Buxtehude, Dietrich: Von Gott will ich nicht lassen, BuxWV 221 Very forthright rhythms for this text, which often is treated rather wistfully. [1:44] HW1 Gigout, Eugène: Offertoire ou Communion No. 7 from Ten Pieces for Organ, this is an expressive trio where all three claviers have a chance at the melody. Registration: Right hand HW Salicional 8' + Harmonieflöte 4' (withdrawn at end); Left hand SW Geigen 8'; Pedal: Cello 16' + Gedecktbass 8'. [3:17] HW1 Pachelbel, Johann: An Wasserflüssen Babylon, 2nd Setting Four-voice fughetta, all on the Hauptwerk (Principal 8' + Fugara 4' + Hochoctav 2'), with a brief repeat on the Swell (Gedackt 8' + Salicional 4') with Chorale soloed out on the Hauptwerk Principal coupled to the Pedal at 4'. Virtual Performance by James Pressler using slightly modified extended sample set. [4:34] HW1 Reger, Max: Jesu, meine Freude, Op. 67, No. 21 Chorale in the tenor voice on the Hauptwerk. For the repeat, the accompaniment switches to triplets. Registration: HW Principal 8' + Salicional 8' + Schwebung 8'; SW Gedeckt 8' + Harmoniefloete 4'; PD Cello 16' + Gedecktbass 8' + SW/PD [1:33] HW1 Krebs, Johann Ludwig: Trio in C, Br II:22 An ascending scale opens, a long trill closes the main idea of this trio. Registration: RH on HW - Gedeckt 8' + Salicional 8' + Fugara 43' + Hochoctav 2'; LH on SW - Geigen 8' + Gedeckt 8' + Salicet 4' + Harmonieflöte 4'; Feet on PD Cello 16' + Octavbass 8' + Choralbass 4'. [2:48] HW1 Froberger, J. J.: Capriccio II Jolly little caprice realized on one manual with occasional pedal ad lib. There are 6 main sections, each with its own registration. 1) Gedackt 8' + Octave Koppel; 2) Gedackt 8'; 3) Gedackt 8' + Fugara 4'; 4) Principal 8' + Salicional 8'+ Fugara 4'; 5) Gedackt 8' + Fugara 4' + Octave Koppel; 6) Principal 8' + Gedackt 8' + Fugara 4'. [4:32] HW1 Pachelbel, Johann: Ich ruf zu dir, 1st Setting Four voice setting for Hauptwerk (Principal 8' + Harmonieflöte 4' + Hochoktav 2') with the repeat played softer on the Nebenwerk (Gedackt 8' + Salicional 4'). Action noise has been suppressed. [3:0] HW1 Pachelbel, Johann: Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hält, 3rd Setting Similar in structure to the 2nd Setting but longer and with more ornamentation. Registration: HW Principal 8' + Flauta 4' + Hochoctave 2' (repeat in middle on Nebenwerk: Gedeckt 8' + Salicional 8' + Schwebung 8' + Harmonieflöte 4'); last note Pedal: Subbaß 16' + Octavbaß 8' [3:45] HW1 Bach, Johann Sebastian: Concerto in G minor, BWV 985 Based on a violon concerto by Georg Philipp Telemann. Three movements: [Allegro] HW Principal 8' + Fugara 4' + Hochoctave 2'; Nebenwerk Geigen 8' Pedal Bordun 16' + Choralbaß 4' + NW/PD - Adagio (C minor) Top voice HW Salicional 8' + Schwebung 8'; Bottom voice PD Cello 16' + Gedecktbaß 8' - Allegro HW Gedeckt 8' + Fugara 4' + Hochoctav 2' + NW/HW; NW Geigen 8' + Salicet 4' + Harmonieflöte 4'; PD Bordun 16' + Octavbaß 8 + Gedacktbaß 8' + NW/PD. [6:23] HW1