UPDATED 03/18/2010

FEATURED INSTRUMENT CONCERT   Your support is necessary to continue this service. Even a small donation will help. Vermeulen Brothers Organ at Congregation "Vloedschuur," Heteren, Holland (1959) - Samples by Hauptwerk.nl Buxtehude, Dietrich: Gott der Vater wohn uns bei, BuxWV 190 Rather playful ornamentation and syncopation in the chorale at times, played on Zwelwerk Cornet with sturdy accompaniment from Hoofdwerk Principal 8' + Roerfluit 4' and PD Subbass 16' + Gedekt 8'. An uptempo version featuring the Schalmei (with a custom subset on a slower computer with less memory) can be heard here. [2:31] HW1 Bach, Johann Sebastian: Concerto in F Major, BWV 978 Harpsichord transcription based on Vivaldi violin concerto Opus 3, No. 3, there are three movements: Allegro [Hoofdwerk: Holpijp 8' + Octaaf 4' + Mixtuur 3 st., I+II; Zwelwerk: Roerfluit 8' + Blokfluit 4' + Octaaf 2'; Pedaal: Subbas 16' + Gedekt 8'], Largo [Hoofwerk: Prestant 8', I+II; Zwelwerk: Gemshoorn 8'; Pedaal: Subbas 16', Ped + II - rolled chords were an experiment.] and Allegro [Hoofdwerk: Prestant 8' + Mixtuur 3 st., I + II; Zwelwerk: Gemshoorn 8' + Prestant 4' + Octaaf 2' + Scherp 3 st.; Pedaal Subbas 16' - for repeat, Hoofdwerk: Holpijp 8' + Roerfluit 4, I+II Zwelwerk: Roerfluit 8' + Prestant 4' + Octaaf 2' Pedaal: Subbas 16']. Pedal ad lib to emphasize harmonic structure. [7:44] HW1 Guilmant, Alexandre: Offertoire No. 1, (From Opus 60) Charming variations based on the Noel: Grand Dieu! Allons Pasteurs, que l'on S'éveille. Zwelwerk Gemshoorn 8' with or without Blokfluit 4' coupled (or not) to Hoofdwerk Holpijp 8' and Pedaal Subbas 16'. Tremulant and dynamics throughout. Impulse reverberation added. [3:57] HW1 Froberger, J. J.: Capriccio I Four sections, two on the Hauptwerk, two on the Positiv (the second of which changes registration and is in 3/4 meter). In detail: Ms. 1 - Hoofdwerk: Prestant 8' + Octaaf 4' + Mixtuur 3 st.; Ms 15 - Zwelwerk (open) Roerfluit 8' + Prestant 4' + Octaaf 2' + Scherp 3 st.; Ms. 28 - Zwelwerk (starting with nearly closed shutters, increasing incrementally through to end of piece: Zwelwerk Prestant 4' + Octaaf 2' + Scherp 3 st. + Schalmei 8'; Ms 51 Move to Hoofdwerk: Prestant 8' + Octaaf 4' + Mixtuur 3 st. coupled to Zwelwerk [3:9] HW1 Reger, Max: Melodia, Op. 59, No. 11 The wandering RH melody is accompanied by two other wandering voices {LH) and Pedaal, which occasionally joins the fray. Registration: LH Zwelwerk Gemshoorn 8' + Blokfluit 4' (removed at the end and Tremulant added) which is coupled to the RH Hauptwerk Holpijp 8', which in turn is coupled to the Pedaal Subbas 16'. Dynamics more or less as imagined by the composer. Impulse reverberation added. [2:27] HW1 Reger, Max: Christus, der ist mein Leben, Op. 67, No. 5 The Chorale is ornamented and played on the Hoofdwerk Octaaf 4' (played an octave lower) until the very end, where the last two notes join the accompaniment on the Zwelwerk Gemshoorn 8' (coupled to PD Subbas 16'). Impulse reverberation added. [1:8] HW1 Buxtehude, Dietrich: Praeludium in Bb Major (Fragment), BuxWV 154 Cheerful little piece which Buxtehude would have a lot of fun finishing had he ever gotten around to it. Score provided by Boris Mudrinic. [1:13] HW1 Lebègue, Nicolas: The Journey to Bethlehem The Schalmei 8' sounds wonderfully different in treble and bass registers, and an echo effect, is achieved with expression as in the ending. The original French carol is fascinating to ponder. [2:23] HW1 Krebs, Johann Ludwig: Trio in Bb, Br II:37 Organ trio with a saucy motif arranged by Bach's favorite pupil. Registration: RH on Hoofdwerk: Prestant 8' + Octaaf 4' + Mixtuur 3 St.; LH on Zwelwerk: Roerfluit 8' + Gemshoorn 8' + Blokfluit 4' + Octaaf 2' + Sesquialter 2 St. + Schalmei 8'; Pedaal: Subbas 16' + Koraal 4'. [2:27] Midi file available. HW1 Bach, Johann Sebastian: Das Alte Jahr vergangen ist, BWV 1091 Like the more famous setting in the Liturgical Year, Bach expresses sadness at the passing of the old year. This prelude is from the recently discovered Neumeister Chorales. No reverberation added. Registration: Zwelwerk: Roerfluit 8' + Gemshoorn 8' + Blokfluit 4'; Pedaal Subbas 16' coupled to Hoofdwerk Holpijp 8'. [2:46] HW1 Buxtehude, Dietrich: Ach Herr, mich armen Sünder, BuxWV 178 A serene setting of the Passion Chorale which alternates between straightforward melody and ornamental flourishes. Registration: Zwelwerk Schalmei 8' with Tremulant; Hoofwerk: Roergluit 8' + Octaaf 4'; Pedaal: Subbas 16' + Gedekt 8'. [2:7] Midi file available. HW1 Sweelinck, Jan Pieterszoon: Herr Christ der einig Gottes Sohn, [attributed] Two variations, one with the chorale in the pedal (coupled from the Zwellwerk Schalmei 8'), the second with the chorale ornamented on the HW Octaaf 4' played an octave lower. Impulse reverberation added. [3:36] HW1 Karg-Elert, Sigfrid: Dir, dir, Jehovah, will ich singen!, Op. 65, No. 24 The Chorale melody hops between manuals and pedal, ending in eight voices including double pedal. Impulse reverberation added. [2:2] HW1 Bruhns, Nicholas: Prelude in E minor This Prelude has fugal elements but is basically a virtuoso showpiece. with incredibly varied rhythmic vitality, in many short sections with time signatures like 18/16 and 12/8, and makes great use of repeated notes and chords. [6:50] HW1 Boehm, Georg: Vom Himmel Hoch Three straightforward quasi fughettas in the Hoofdwerk and Pedaal, one for each phrase followed by the slightly decorated Chorale on the Zwelwerk. WAV file is available in RAR format: here (8.8 MB). score. [1:31] HW1 Armsdorf, Andreas: Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend' Bare bones trio with the exception of two notes in the left hand and a triad in the right at the end. Registration: Chorale in Pedaal: Koraal 4'; RH on Hoofdwerk: Holpijp 8' + Octaaf 4'; LH on Zwelwerk: Roerfluit 8' + Blokfluit 4' + Sesquialter 2 St. [0:55] HW1 Strungk, Delphin: Lass mich dein sein und bleiben Very slightly ornamented chorale (the tune is better known as the Passion Chorale) on the Hoofdwerk: Octaaf 4' (played one octave lower), with motives derived from the chorale on the Zwelwerk Gemshoorn 8' + Blokfluit 4' and Pedal: Gedekt 8'. Impulse reverberation added. [1:49] HW1 Bach, Johann Sebastian: Jesu, meines Lebens Leben, BWV 1107 A playful romp totally at odds with the doleful text (Rohrfluit 8' + Vox Humana 8' + Sesquialt (Discant & Bass). The meter switches to 12/8 in the middle (Rohrfluit 8' + Principael 4' + Gedact Quint 3' + Octav 2'). The chorale melody bounces around from voice to voice, finally landing in the Pedaal (Subbass 16' coupled to Manuaal). [1:27] (a=460 Hz) HW2>3 Bach, Johann Sebastian: Vater unser im Himmelreich, BWV 762 Highly ornamented setting of the German chorale associated with the Lord's prayer, which is quite recognizable throughout. [2:21] HW1 Buxtehude, Dietrich: Puer natus in Bethlehem, BuxWV 217 A pensive setting with the chorale relatively unadorned. At first the chorale (Hoofdwerk: Prestant 8' + Roerfluit 4') blends in with the accompaniment (Zwelwerk: Roerfluit 8' + Blokfluit 4'; Pedaal: Subbas 16' + Gedekt 8'), then gently stands out. [1:24] HW1 Bach, Johann Sebastian: Ach Gott und Herr, BWV 714 An intriguing double canon at the octave, with that haunting simplicity Bach can impart to four related lines of music. Registration: RH HW Holpijp 8' + Octaaf 4'; LH ZW Schalmei 8' (increasing dynamically until the end, where a massive decrescendo occurs); PD Subbas 16' + Gedekt 8'. Impulse reverberation added. [1:11] HW1 Pachelbel, Johann: Auf meinen lieben Gott Chorale theme is used in a small fughetta prefacing the actual statement in half notes in the soprano. Registration: Zwelwerk Gemshoorn 8' + Octaaf 2' coupled to HW Octaaf 4'. Impulse reverberation added. [2:11] HW1 Zachau, Friedrich Wilhelm: Komm, heiliger Geist, Herre Gott, 2nd Setting The didactic 4-voice polyphony (bass voice in the pedal) is mitigated a bit by dividing the piece into 7 sections, alternating manuals, balancing the pedal, and getting progressively quieter. Impulse reverberation added. [2:59] (A=465) HW1 Bach, Johann Sebastian: Concerto in C Major, BWV 977 Harpsichord transcription based on unknown concerto, there are three movements: [Allegro], Adagio and Giga (Jig). Typically bright baroque registrations until the last repeat of the Giga, when the Schalmei is added. Sparse pedal added. [6:42] HW1