Dietrich Buxtehude is probably most familiar to modern
classical music audiences as the man who inspired the
young Johann Sebastian Bach to make a lengthy
pilgrimage to Lubeck, Buxtehude's place of employment
and residence for most of his life, just to hear
Buxtehude play the organ. But Buxtehude was a major
figure among German Baroque composers in his own right.
Though we do not have copies of much of the work that
most impressed his contemporaries, Buxtehude
nonetheless left behind a body of v...(+)
Dietrich Buxtehude is probably most familiar to modern
classical music audiences as the man who inspired the
young Johann Sebastian Bach to make a lengthy
pilgrimage to Lubeck, Buxtehude's place of employment
and residence for most of his life, just to hear
Buxtehude play the organ. But Buxtehude was a major
figure among German Baroque composers in his own right.
Though we do not have copies of much of the work that
most impressed his contemporaries, Buxtehude
nonetheless left behind a body of vocal and
instrumental music which is distinguished by its
contrapuntal skill, devotional atmosphere, and raw
intensity. He helped develop the form of the church
cantata, later perfected by Bach, and he was just as
famous a virtuoso on the organ.
This chorale prelude consists of two small organ
versets on the Lutheran chorale Ach Gott und Herr. It
would have likely been played in alternation with the
choir or congregation singing various verses of the
chorale tune. The text of the chorale deals with the
subject of confession. Verses 1 and 3 best encapsulate
the religious theme of sin and redemption highlighted
in this chorale: 1 -- "Ah my Lord God, how heavy and
great are the sins I've committed! There is no one to
be found on earth that can help." 3 -- "I call to Thee,
Don't reject me although I deserve rejection. Ah God,
don't be angry, don't judge me, Thy son has redeemed
me."
Buxtehude sets the first verset with the chorale melody
appearing un-ornamented in the tenor. In the second
verset the chorale melody appears in the soprano
ornamented enough that sometimes the melody is
difficult to trace. The ornamentation style resembles
that of Franz Tunder and Matthias Weckmann and other
composers of the previous generation. While there is
little concrete information to date Buxtehude's organ
works, the style of this works suggests that Ach Gott
und Herr was among his earlier works.
SHEET MUSIC