Johann Christoph Conrad, Trio D Dur

by admin · July 23, 2025

Johann Christoph Conrad (1722 – 1784) was a German composer and organist. Little was known about his life and even the years of birth and death were uncertain. Thanks to Andreas Osiander (see his youtube-channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@einervonweitem) however, we now know his biographical details for certain. He was born in Eisfeld, lived his live in the same town and was organist of the local church. More biographical details can befound in the description of this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_62AxG-DE8k

Six of Conrad’s compositions were published during his life and those are the only composions by his hand we know nowadays. They were published in one volume, entitled “Vorspiele unterschiedener Art für die Orgel, von Johann Christoph Conrad, Organisten zu Eisfeld” (Preludes of Divers Kinds for the Organ, by Johann Christoph Conrad, Organist in Eisfeld). Only the first composition, the Trio presented here today, is notated on three staves. Of the other 5 compositions, I am faily certain 3 of the the choral bound compositions are meant to be played with pedals as well.

Judging by these 6 compositions, Conrad was a very able composer, versed in counterpoint and blessed with imaginative writing. The original publication starts with this Trio in D major, though in the publication it has only a tempo indication (“vergnüglich”) and not a title. There are a few spots in the original source, where I have trouble believing the bass notes are indeed what the composer meant and not an error in the type setting. These bass notes create six-four chords, which are not very idiomatic for the style Conrad writes in. On the other hand, the more idiomatic bass note is a fourth higher than the written note, making a transcription error unlikely. In the score and in my performance I choose nevertheless for the more idomatic bass note instead of the harmonically ugly six-four chord. The original notes are indicated in the footnotes. If you want a score that is note perfect to the original, you can check out the version of Pierre Gouin on IMSLP.

The recording was done with the Sweelinq software and the sampleset of the Müller organ in the Grote Kerk, Leeuwarden (https://sweelinq.com/product/leeuwarden-nl-grote-kerk-muller-organ/).

Score
Conrad, Trio, D Dur