Where to start with Buxtehude ?
Posted by: Cheese on 29 May 2007
I have heard some organ piece in the car recently and found this composer most interesting - as far as I can see he also composed a lot of vocal works.
I could do with some organ and keyboard music, and one or two cantatas won't do any harm to my collection either. Some of you buffs might have an idea ?
Thanks.
I could do with some organ and keyboard music, and one or two cantatas won't do any harm to my collection either. Some of you buffs might have an idea ?
Thanks.
Posted on: 29 May 2007 by u5227470736789439
Dear Chesse,
I hope pe-zulu sees this. He is the one person I know of here who is expert in this early Baroque repertoire. It is just before my cut-off [so far], in that I know and love the works of Henry Purcell [from Buxtehude's time], and otherwise I continue to thoroughly investigated [it never ends] only JS Bach and GF Handel, and not yet Telemann, from a generation later.
Bach wanted to follow Butehude at Lubeck, and made a famous journey to see him...
ATB from Fredrik
I hope pe-zulu sees this. He is the one person I know of here who is expert in this early Baroque repertoire. It is just before my cut-off [so far], in that I know and love the works of Henry Purcell [from Buxtehude's time], and otherwise I continue to thoroughly investigated [it never ends] only JS Bach and GF Handel, and not yet Telemann, from a generation later.
Bach wanted to follow Butehude at Lubeck, and made a famous journey to see him...
ATB from Fredrik
Posted on: 01 June 2007 by pe-zulu
Buxtehudes organ music is by far the most important part of his surviving instrumental music, but some harpsichord music and some chamber music (triosonates for violin, viola da gamba and continuo)also exists.
The main body of the organ music consists of some dramatic fantastic pieces called "preludes" or "toccatas", and some reflective organ chorales built upon Lutheranian chorales. Ad to this a small number of great chorale phantasies and a few short fugues.
There are at the moment IMO three available important integral recordings of his organ music. These CDs can´t be purchased separately, but it pays - so to say - to acquire one of these.
1) Harald Vogel on Dabringhausen and Grimm (7 CDs ca. 60 Euro´s), recently rereleased (midprice) is the until now unsurpassed master of Buxtehudes phantastic style. And he plays on a large number of restored important North German baroque organs.
2) Ulrik Spang-Hanssen using as well old organs as newly built organs. His integral has recently been rereleased by Membran (6 CDs bargain price ca.10 Euro´s for the complete set). His style resembles Vogels a lot i.e. phantastic and rather extrovert in the preludes, more introvert in the chorales, and this set represents the most favorable purchase regarding the quality/price relationship.
3) Bernard Foccroulle on Ricercare (5 CDs ca. 50 Euro´s) plays also on a number of restored baroque organs. He is softer, more introvert, generally more reflective.
Two important but not yet completed integrals come from Bine Bryndorf (Danacord) and a collective of organists (Wolfgang Rübsam and pupils/friends on Naxos).The CDs of these sets are available separately.
In your situation I would acquire the Spang-Hanssen integral and later consider the need for other interpretations.
The harpsichord music consists of a number of suites in traditional German/French baroque harpsichord style and a few variation-works, written when Buxtehude was young. It has not yet been recorded in full, but Ton Koopman has recorded most of it and is expected to record the rest too. I find him acceptable, but a little on the workman-like side.
The most exciting and comprehensive set is the 3CD set by Lars Ulrik Mortensen released by Da Capo (full price), but other recommendable recordings come from Glenn Wilson (one Naxos CD bargain price) and Rinaldo Alessandrini (one Astreé CD full price).
The "must have" recording of the Triosonates is released by Naxos (2 CDs bargain price) and is played by John Holloway, Jaap ter Linden and Lars Ulrik Mortensen.
While I have heard most of the existing recordings of Buxtehudes instrumental music, I haven´t investigated his vocal music to the same extent, and I don´t think, that I am sufficiently qualified to post recommandations of the vocal music.
The main body of the organ music consists of some dramatic fantastic pieces called "preludes" or "toccatas", and some reflective organ chorales built upon Lutheranian chorales. Ad to this a small number of great chorale phantasies and a few short fugues.
There are at the moment IMO three available important integral recordings of his organ music. These CDs can´t be purchased separately, but it pays - so to say - to acquire one of these.
1) Harald Vogel on Dabringhausen and Grimm (7 CDs ca. 60 Euro´s), recently rereleased (midprice) is the until now unsurpassed master of Buxtehudes phantastic style. And he plays on a large number of restored important North German baroque organs.
2) Ulrik Spang-Hanssen using as well old organs as newly built organs. His integral has recently been rereleased by Membran (6 CDs bargain price ca.10 Euro´s for the complete set). His style resembles Vogels a lot i.e. phantastic and rather extrovert in the preludes, more introvert in the chorales, and this set represents the most favorable purchase regarding the quality/price relationship.
3) Bernard Foccroulle on Ricercare (5 CDs ca. 50 Euro´s) plays also on a number of restored baroque organs. He is softer, more introvert, generally more reflective.
Two important but not yet completed integrals come from Bine Bryndorf (Danacord) and a collective of organists (Wolfgang Rübsam and pupils/friends on Naxos).The CDs of these sets are available separately.
In your situation I would acquire the Spang-Hanssen integral and later consider the need for other interpretations.
The harpsichord music consists of a number of suites in traditional German/French baroque harpsichord style and a few variation-works, written when Buxtehude was young. It has not yet been recorded in full, but Ton Koopman has recorded most of it and is expected to record the rest too. I find him acceptable, but a little on the workman-like side.
The most exciting and comprehensive set is the 3CD set by Lars Ulrik Mortensen released by Da Capo (full price), but other recommendable recordings come from Glenn Wilson (one Naxos CD bargain price) and Rinaldo Alessandrini (one Astreé CD full price).
The "must have" recording of the Triosonates is released by Naxos (2 CDs bargain price) and is played by John Holloway, Jaap ter Linden and Lars Ulrik Mortensen.
While I have heard most of the existing recordings of Buxtehudes instrumental music, I haven´t investigated his vocal music to the same extent, and I don´t think, that I am sufficiently qualified to post recommandations of the vocal music.
Posted on: 01 June 2007 by Cheese
Oh, pe-zulu, fantastic, thanks ! The Spang-Hanssen looks right, besides the 6 CD's it's even available in mp3 (on CD). And for €13 instead of €10 for the CD package. I wonder which idiot will buy this as you can rip the files yourself if necessary.
On the same page I stumbled on a thing called Vocal music Volume 1, I don't know what the hell it is but it's Emma Kirkby singing so there'll be one more CD around to enjoy in a few days.
Cheers.
On the same page I stumbled on a thing called Vocal music Volume 1, I don't know what the hell it is but it's Emma Kirkby singing so there'll be one more CD around to enjoy in a few days.
Cheers.
Posted on: 02 June 2007 by pe-zulu
quote:Originally posted by Cheese:
On the same page I stumbled on a thing called Vocal music Volume 1, I don't know what the hell it is but it's Emma Kirkby singing so there'll be one more CD around to enjoy in a few days.
Cheers.
I haven´t heard this, but I know someone, who owns it and says, that it is very good. But I don´t recommend recordings, I haven´t heard myself.
Regards,
Posted on: 02 June 2007 by mtuttleb
quote:1) Harald Vogel on Dabringhausen and Grimm (7 CDs ca. 60 Euro´s), recently rereleased (midprice) is the until now unsurpassed master of Buxtehudes phantastic style. And he plays on a large number of restored important North German baroque organs.
pe-zulu
Thanks for the recommendation.
Regards
Mark