Dietrich Buxtehude, Ciacona e moll (BuxWV 160)
When I practise one of the familiar compositions on the reportoire, I like to make my own score from the manuscript source or from an old edition of the work. Last week I practised...
Category: Buxtehude, Dietrich
Dietrich Buxtehude, Ach Herr, mich armen Sünder, BuxWV 178
The only source available for this composition is the Frankenberger manuscript, in the posession of “Het Nederlands Muziekinstituut”, the national library of The Netherlands. The manuscript is named after one of the former posessors...
Dietrich Buxtehude, Magnificat, BuxWV 204
Manuscript Mus Ms 30280, owned by the Staatsbibliothek Berlin contains a magnificat of Dietrich Buxtehude, consisting of four seperate parts. They are generally published as two seperate pieces, in the catalogue of Buxtehude’s compositions...
Dietrich Buxtehude, Wär Gott nicht mit uns, dieser Zeit (BuxWV 222)
“Wär Gott nicht mit uns dieser Zeit” is a Lutheran hymn. Martin Luther based the words for this hymn on psalm 124 and evoces in this hymn vividly that men’s life depends on God’s...
Dietrich Buxtehude, Von Gott will ich nicht lassen (BuxWV 221)
Buxtehude’s second prelude to “Von Gott will ich nicht lassen”, BuxWV 220, is very unlike its twin prelude, BuxWV 220. Where that one is Buxtehude’s familiar monodic style, BuxWV 221 is full of grandeur,...
Dietrich Buxtehude, Von Gott will ich nicht lassen (BuxWV 220)
Buxtehude’s prelude to “Von Gott will ich nicht lassen”, BuxWV 220, is in his familiar style. The soprano voice plays the choral melody with colourfull embelishments. The other voices accompanythe solo voice with elements...
Dietrich Buxtehude, Vater unser im Himmelreich, BuxWV 219
This chorale prelude is one of Buxtehude’s most-played chorale-based organ works. It is in Buxtehude’s typical style in which the chorale melody appears elegantly ornamented in the soprano voice, accompanied by three other voices...
Dietrich Buxtehude, Herr Christ der einig Gottes Sohn, BuxWV 192
One of the two preludes Buxtehude wrote on the melody of “Herr Christ, der einig Gottes Sohn”. It is written in his usual style, with a colourfull solo voice, playing the choral melody with...
Dietrich Buxtehude, Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, BuxWV 223
Buxtehudes’ choral prelude to “Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern” is a multipart work. The first two parts show the choral melody in a relatively simple setting, first in the bass, then in the soprano...
Dietrich Buxtehude, Der Tag der ist so freudenreich, BuxWV 182
Buxtehude expressed the joyful occasion that is the subject of this choral with a soprano voice that richly adorns the choral melody. The soprano voice frequently reaches an octave above or below the actual...
Dietrich Buxtehude, Lobt Gott ihr Christen all’zugleich, BuxWV 202
Buxtehude’s prelude on “Lobt Gott ihr Christen all’zugleich” is rather short. Almost as if Buxtehude was in a hurry and had no time to create something more elaborate. Yet Buxtehude has a small surprise...
Dietrich Buxtehude, Gelobet seist du Jesu Christ, BuxWV 189
The choral “Gelobet seist du Jesu Christ” was the prominent hymn (Hauptlied) for Christmas Day in the Lutherian church in Germany. It is therefore not surprising that all the organ composers of the German...
Dietrich Buxtehude, In dulci jubilo, BuxWV197
Buxtehude’s prelude on “In dulci jubilo” is a typical example of Buxtehude’s chorale prelude style. The melody is very colourfully embellished and the middle voices are expertly crafted . The bass voice plays parts...
Dietrich Buxtehude, Puer natus in Bethlehem, BuxWV 217
BuxWV 217 is one of the shortest chorale preludes by Buxtehude. The character is solemn and dignified. Ideally suited I think to use a Trompet stop as cantus firmus. I wish I could play...
Dietrich Buxtehude, Nun bitten wir den heiligen Geist, BuxWV 209
I’m a few weeks early with this chorale prelude. The text of “Nun bitten wir den heiligen Geist” is at least 700 years old. It is a prayer in German to the Holy Spirit,...