Dietrich [Diderik Hansen] Buxtehude was an organist and
composer of the Baroque period. Not only the year, but
also the country of his birth is uncertain and
disputed. Since he spent his early years in Helsingborg
in Skåne, at the time part of Denmark, he is by some
considered a Danish composer. Others, however, claim
that he was born at Oldesloe in the Duchy of Holstein,
(now Germany), which at that time was a part of the
Danish Monarchy. Later in his life he Germanized his
name, his new name ...(+)
Dietrich [Diderik Hansen] Buxtehude was an organist and
composer of the Baroque period. Not only the year, but
also the country of his birth is uncertain and
disputed. Since he spent his early years in Helsingborg
in Skåne, at the time part of Denmark, he is by some
considered a Danish composer. Others, however, claim
that he was born at Oldesloe in the Duchy of Holstein,
(now Germany), which at that time was a part of the
Danish Monarchy. Later in his life he Germanized his
name, his new name being Dietrich Buxtehude. His early
youth and birthplace remain a mystery. Most scholars
recognize that he studied music with his father,
Johann, who had a great influence on him. J.S. Bach did
meet him and study for several months in 1705 and
1706.
In music, a canzonetta was a popular Italian secular
vocal composition which originated around 1560. In its
earlier versions it was somewhat like a madrigal but
lighter in style; but by the 18th century, especially
as it moved outside of Italy, the term came to mean a
song for voice and accompaniment, usually in a light
secular style.
This delightfully airy "Canzonetta" was originally
composed by Dietrich Buxtehude for organ.It is easy to
see why Buxtehude became such a prominent influence on
J.S. Bach. In the autumn of 1705, Johann Sebastian Bach
traveled to Lübeck to learn what he could from the
this now famous organist, Buxtehude. Accounts suggest
that his organ playing changed dramatically as a
result.
Although originally created for organ, I adapted this
work for piano an incorporated what I believe are
accurate baroque articulations and ornaments.