A Fundamental | Buxtehude: Complete Organ Music | Dietrich Buxtehude, Walter Kraft ...

BEAUTIFUL AS WELL AS REFERENCE | Buxtehude: Complete Organ Music | Dietrich Buxtehude, Walter Kraft

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	• Buxtehude: Complete Organ Music Dietrich Buxtehude, Walter Kraft Vox (Classical), 2004 average customer review:based on 5 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Die Orgelwerke Buxtehudes minus 2

This is by far (with the exception of the set performed by Harald Vogel) the best recording of Buxtehude's complete output for Organ. With two exceptions (not included in this recording are the Praeludium C-Dur BuxWV 138 and the Kanzonette a-Moll BuxWV 225), Walter Kraft here records the entire opus for Organ of his illustrious predecessor at the post of Organist and the Marienkirche zu Luebeck--the Danish/German Organist Dietrich Buxtehude.

A Fundamental

Not always have we got a clear notion as to the extent in which Buxtehude influenced the work of J.S. Bach. Neither is a Buxtehude's full collection available in just one album at such an accesible price. This is an impeccable remasterisation of a celebrated performance of Walter Kraft on the Lubeck Cathedral organ: an instrument very similar to those Buxtehude wrote for.

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BEAUTIFUL AS WELL AS REFERENCE

As one completely devoted to the organ works of Bach (and of others), I highly recommend this recording. I have loved Buxtehude's organ works for many years, and had certain recordings on LP (old Mercury Living Presence of Alf Linder and the LP of Walcha's "Orfelmeister vor Bach,") which are my favorites. Neither, however, is available on CD. While Walter Kraft is not Helmut Walcha or Alf Linder (an objective observation, not a qualitative one), he is not an average, or even a good organist. He is a superb organist. Listening to this album not only brought me back to organ music that I love, it introduced me to someone who plays it differently (not worse) than those I was familiar with. I knew Walter Kraft's playing from some Bach LP's I have hidden away in my multitude of old recordings. I prefer Walcha and Karl Richter for Bach, which does not mean that I will throw away any Jeanne Demessieux, E. Power Biggs, or Simon Preston recordings I have, let alone my Schweitzer LP's. This album is not only the best recording available of all Buxtehude's organ music, it stands by itself due to the virtuosity of Mr. Kraft. It is great music, well played, and eminently listenable.

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Revelatory

Dietrich Buxtehude was but one of a long and distinguished line of Dutch, Danish and German organists/composers beginning with Conrad Paumann in the fifteenth century and ending with the death of J S Bach and the Barok epoch some three hundred years later. In the company of Sweelinck, Bruhns, Muffat, Reinken et al, he was a luminary; but it is as mentor and inspirer of Bach that his place in history has been elevated above that of the others.

Musically, he was very inventive but seemed to have a rather short attention span so that the potential of much of his thematic material remained undeveloped. It was in the hands of Bach (who "borrowed" a surprising amount of Buxtehude's writing - a common enough practice at the time) that the seeds germinated to become the zenith of Barok (and subsequent) organ composition. This set from Vox and Walter Kraft reminds us of just how much Bach and, by extension, ourselves, was/are indebted to Buxtehude.

Sadly, the three organs organs of the Marienkirche, Lübeck, two of which pre-dated Buxtehude, were destroyed in 1942. The instrument of the Totentanzkapelle (from 1477) was restored to a 17th century specification in 1937 but this and the chapel were damaged in the fire following an allied bombing raid. However, Kemper u. Sohne were able to restore the instrument to its pre-war condition and it is this organ that is featured on these recordings. It is voiced in a manner with which Buxtehude would have been familiar and is quite well suited to this purpose but it proved mechanically unreliable and was replaced some ten years after these recordings were made. A more suitable instrument would be the church's Große Orgel (also by Kemper) but this was not completed until 1986.

Walter Kraft, organist at the Marienkirche for nearly fifty years, revived the tradition of Abendmusik started by Franz Tunder and continued by his son-in-law, Buxtehude so despite the break in organ lineage, there is a considerable sense of history attached to this set of six CDs transferred from the 1950's LPs. Kraft's interpretations and playing are scholarly and refined, having much in common with his contemporary Helmut Walcha but unlike Walcha who lived to his mid-eighties, Kraft, having survived the vicissitudes of war, perished in an Amsterdam hotel fire in 1977.

The original recordings, which were good, have been digitally enhanced to provide a bright and well-balanced reproduction of these important works and to those familiar with the earlier records, it might seem that some of the more wayward acoustics (seven seconds reverberation!) of this glorious Gothic brick building have been tamed in the process.

I can't think why anyone would not derive a great deal of pleasure from listening to these excellent discs. The musical content, being so seminally influential, in my judgment is a required adjunct to the works of J S Bach.

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Eloquent performance style

I Listened to this recording many years ago on vinyl and was mesmerized. When CD's came into being, this recording was lost in oblivion for several years. Finding it again after 20+ was a god-send. I am able to enjoy this gorgeous interpretation by Herr Kraft again; especially the Prelude and Fugue in F#minor; one of my absolute favorites!!

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Tracks
Chorale prelude for organ in the Phrygian mode, BuxWV 218, 'Te Deum Laudamus': Praeludium | Chorale prelude for organ in the Phrygian mode, BuxWV 218, 'Te Deum Laudamus': Te Deum laudamus | Chorale prelude for organ in the Phrygian mode, BuxWV 218, 'Te Deum Laudamus': Te Martyratum candidatus | Chorale prelude for organ in the Phrygian mode, BuxWV 218, 'Te Deum Laudamus': Tu devicto mortis acuelo | Chorale prelude for organ in the Phrygian mode, BuxWV 218, 'Te Deum Laudamus': Pleni sunt coeli et terra | Canzona for keyboard in C major, BuxWV 166 | Canzonetta for keyboard in C major, BuxWV 167 | Toccata for organ in F major, BuxWV 156 | Chorale prelude for organ in D minor, BuxWV 196, 'Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ' | Chorale prelude for organ in A minor, BuxWV 193, 'Herr Jesu Christ, ich weiss gar wohl' | Chorale prelude for organ in the Dorian mode, BuxWV 224, 'Wir danken dir, Herr Jesu Christ' | Toccata for organ in F major, BuxWV 157: Toccata | Toccata for organ in F major, BuxWV 157: Fugue | Praeludium for organ in C major, BuxWV 137: Prelude | Praeludium for organ in C major, BuxWV 137: Fugue | Praeludium for organ in C major, BuxWV 137: Ciaccona | Chorale prelude for organ in Phrygian mode, BuxWV 178, 'Ach Herr, mich armen Sünder' | Chorale prelude for organ in Dorian mode, BuxWV 180, 'Christ, unser Herr zum Jordan kam' | Praeludium for organ in E minor, BuxWV 142: Prelude | Praeludium for organ in E minor, BuxWV 142: Fugue | Praeludium for organ in E minor, BuxWV 143: Prelude | Praeludium for organ in E minor, BuxWV 143: Fugue | Praeludium for organ in E minor, BuxWV 143: Adagio | Praeludium for organ in G minor, BuxWV 149: Prelude | Praeludium for organ in G minor, BuxWV 149: Fugue | Praeludium for organ in G minor, BuxWV 149: Adagio | Praeludium for organ in F major, BuxWV 145: Prelude | Praeludium for organ in F major, BuxWV 145: Fugue | Fugue for keyboard in B flat major, BuxWV 176 | Praeludium for organ in G minor, BuxWV 148: Prelude | Praeludium for organ in G minor, BuxWV 148: Allegro | Praeludium for organ in G minor, BuxWV 148: Fugue | Praeludium for organ in D major, BuxWV 139: Prelude | Praeludium for organ in D major, BuxWV 139: Fugue | Praeludium for organ in D major, BuxWV 139: Adagio | Praeludium for organ in G minor, BuxWV 150: Prelude | Praeludium for organ in G minor, BuxWV 150: Fugue | Fugue (Gigue) for keyboard in C major, BuxWV 174 | Praeludium for organ in A minor, BuxWV 153: Prelude | Praeludium for organ in A minor, BuxWV 153: Fugue | Praeludium for organ in C major, BuxWV 136: Prelude | Praeludium for organ in C major, BuxWV 136: Fugue | Praeludium for organ in C major, BuxWV 136: Allegro | Praeludium for organ in E major, BuxWV 141: Prelude | Praeludium for organ in E major, BuxWV 141: Fugue | Praeludium for organ in E major, BuxWV 141: Presto | Praeludium for organ in E major, BuxWV 141: Adagio | Praeludium for organ in D minor, BuxWV 140: Prelude | Praeludium for organ in D minor, BuxWV 140: Fugue | Praeludium for organ in D minor, BuxWV 140: Allegro | Chorale prelude for organ in G major, BuxWV 182, 'Der Tag, der ist so freudenreich' | Toccata for keyboard in G major, BuxWV 164 | Chorale prelude for organ in the Dorian mode, BuxWV 183, 'Durch Adams Fall ist ganz verderbt' | Praeludium for organ in F sharp minor, BuxWV 146: Prelude | Praeludium for organ in F sharp minor, BuxWV 146: Grave | Praeludium for organ in F sharp minor, BuxWV 146: Vivace | Praeludium for organ in F sharp minor, BuxWV 146: con discretione | Praeludium for organ in the Phrygian Mode, BuxWV 152: Prelude | Praeludium for organ in the Phrygian Mode, BuxWV 152: Fugue | Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort, for chorus, 2 violins, violone or bombarde & continuo, BuxWV 27 | Chorale prelude for organ in C major, BuxWV 186, 'Es ist das Heil uns kommen her' | Chorale prelude for organ in C major, BuxWV 184, 'Ein' Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott' | Chorale prelude for organ in G minor, BuxWV 185, 'Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort' | Praeambulum for organ in A minor, BuxWV 158: Praeambulum | Praeambulum for organ in A minor, BuxWV 158: Fugue | Praeludium for organ in F major, BuxWV 144: Prelude | Praeludium for organ in F major, BuxWV 144: Fugue | Chorale prelude for organ in G minor, BuxWV 211, 'Nun komm der Heiden Heiland' | Praeludium for keyboard in G minor, BuxWV 163: Prelude | Praeludium for keyboard in G minor, BuxWV 163: Fughetta | Praeludium for keyboard in G minor, BuxWV 163: Fugue 1 | Praeludium for keyboard in G minor, BuxWV 163: Fugue 2 | Chorale prelude for organ in G major, BuxWV 197, 'In Dulci Jubilo' | Praeludium for organ in A major, BuxWV 151: Prelude | Praeludium for organ in A major, BuxWV 151: Fugue | Praeludium for organ in A major, BuxWV 151: Adagio | Ciacona for organ in C minor, BuxWV 159 | Chorale prelude for organ in G major, BuxWV 202, 'Lobt Gott, ihr Christen, allzugleich' | Canzonetta for keyboard in G major, BuxWV 171 | Canzona for keyboard in G minor, BuxWV 173 | Chorale prelude for organ in G major, BuxWV 189, 'Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ' | Ciacona for organ in E minor, BuxWV 160 | Chorale prelude for organ in F major, BuxWV 194, 'Ich dank dir, lieber Herre' | Canzona for keyboard in D minor, BuxWV 168 | Chorale prelude for organ in G major, BuxWV 210, 'Nun freut euch lieben Christen G'mein' | Canzona for keyboard in G major, BuxWV 170 | Chorale prelude for organ in G minor, BuxWV 181, 'Danket dem Herrn' | Chorale prelude for organ in F major, BuxWV 195, 'Ich dank dir schon durch deinen Sohn' | Chorale prelude for organ in G minor, BuxWV 201, 'Kommt, Herr, zu mir, spricht Gottes Sohn' | Magnificat Primi Toni for organ, BuxWV 203 | Chorale prelude for organ in G major, BuxWV 188, 'Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ' | Praeludium for keyboard in G major, BuxWV 162 | Chorale prelude for organ in G major, BuxWV 223, 'Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern' | Chorale prelude for keyboard, BuxWV 215, 'Nun lob, mein Seel, den Herren': I | Chorale prelude for keyboard, BuxWV 215, 'Nun lob, mein Seel, den Herren': II | Chorale prelude for keyboard, BuxWV 215, 'Nun lob, mein Seel, den Herren': III | Chorale prelude for keyboard, BuxWV 215, 'Nun lob, mein Seel, den Herren': IV | Chorale prelude for organ in D minor, BuxWV 207, 'Nimm von uns, Herr, Du treuer Gott': I | Chorale prelude for organ in D minor, BuxWV 207, 'Nimm von uns, Herr, Du treuer Gott': II | Chorale prelude for organ in D minor, BuxWV 207, 'Nimm von uns, Herr, Du treuer Gott': III | Chorale prelude for organ in G major, BuxWV 213, 'Nun lob meine Seele den Herren': I | Chorale prelude for organ in G major, BuxWV 213, 'Nun lob meine Seele den Herren': II | Chorale prelude for organ in G major, BuxWV 213, 'Nun lob meine Seele den Herren': III | Praeludium for organ in B flat major, BuxWV 154 (fragment) | Chorale prelude for organ in A minor, BuxWV 220, 'Von Gott will ich nicht lassen' | Chorale prelude for organ in A minor, BuxWV 221, 'Von Gott will ich nicht lassen' | Chorale prelude for organ in G minor, BuxWV 198, 'Jesus Christus, unser Heiland' | Chorale prelude for organ in C major, BuxWV 212, 'Nun lob mein Seele den Herren' | Chorale prelude for organ in G major, BuxWV 209, 'Nun bitten wir den heiligen Geist' | Chorale prelude for organ in C major, BuxWV 190, 'Gott der Vater wohn uns bei' | Fugue for keyboard in G major, BuxWV 175 | Canzona for keyboard in E minor, BuxWV 169 | Magnificat Primi Toni for organ, BuxWV 204 | Chorale prelude for organ in D minor, BuxWV 219, 'Vater unser im Himmelreich' | Chorale prelude for organ in G major, BuxWV 208, 'Nun bitten wir den heligen Geist' | Magnificat Noni Toni for organ in D minor, BuxWV 205: Magnificat | Magnificat Noni Toni for organ in D minor, BuxWV 205: Versus | Magnificat Noni Toni for organ in D minor, BuxWV 205: Versus 5 alla duodecima | Chorale prelude for keyboard in E minor, BuxWV 179, 'Auf meinen lieben Gott': Praeludium | Chorale prelude for keyboard in E minor, BuxWV 179, 'Auf meinen lieben Gott': Double | Chorale prelude for keyboard in E minor, BuxWV 179, 'Auf meinen lieben Gott': Sarabande | Chorale prelude for keyboard in E minor, BuxWV 179, 'Auf meinen lieben Gott': Courante | Chorale prelude for keyboard in E minor, BuxWV 179, 'Auf meinen lieben Gott': Gigue | Chorale prelude for organ in F major, BuxWV 199, 'Komm heiliger Geist, Herre Gott' | Chorale prelude for organ in G major, BuxWV 192, 'Herr Christ der einig Gottes Sohn' | Chorale prelude for organ in Phrygian mode, BuxWV 206, 'Mensch, willt du leben seliglich' | Chorale prelude for organ in A minor, BuxWV 217, 'Puer Natus in Bethlehem' | Chorale prelude for organ in A minor, BuxWV 222, 'Wär Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit' | Chorale prelude for organ in G major, BuxWV 187, 'Es spricht der unweisen Mund wohl' | Chorale prelude for organ in G major, BuxWV 191, 'Herr Christ der einig Gottes Sohn' | Chorale prelude for organ in F major, BuxWV 200, 'Komm heiliger Geist, Herre Gott' | Passacaglia for organ in D minor, BuxWV 161 | Toccata for keyboard in G major, BuxWV 165 | Chorale prelude for organ in D minor, BuxWV 177, 'Ach Gott und Herr' | Toccata for organ in D minor, BuxWV 155

recommendations

L'ORGUE 101: The Short Course.