Ernst Friedrich Richter, Präludium und Fuge, h moll

The source for this publication is a handwritten copy by August Wilhelm Bach of 6 preludes and fugues composed by Ernst Friedrich Richter. One of them has an opus number, but the rest has not. I do not know whether that is because they have not been published before or because Bach simply did not notate the opus number. If somebody knows the opus number that belongs to this Prelude and Fugue, I’d like to hear it.
The prelude reminds me very much of Mendelsohn’s G major prelude, even though this one is in a minor tonality. A smooth flowing melodic line, largely homophonic texture and romantic chord progressions, make this fine prelude which is a joy to play. The fugue is well crafted. One might say that Richter composed in an old-fashioned style for his time, yet he clearly knew his trade. I play the fugue with a large plenum, adding some more stops on the final page, and in the final bars both 32 feet stops join the fun. Probably a bit too much, but what good are those stops if you never use them?

The recording was done on the sample set of the Müller-organ in the Sint Bavokerk in Haarlem by Voxus Organs for Hauptwerk.

Score
Richter, Präludium und Fuge, h moll

Performance

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