Organ improvisations of the ecclesiastical year - 7 CDs (Code: OP7008)

Bachs "Orgelbüchlein" had the same motto „Dem höchten Gott allein zu Ehren, dem Nächsten draus sich zu belehren" – "In the glory of God alone in the highest and the edification of my neighbor"; the CDs are intended to give a stimulus for your own playing, to encourage curiosity and enthusiasm for organ-playing that is liturgical, artistic and still offers much variety.

They contain 204 examples of various ways of performing a chorale, always bearing in mind the demands of the highest artistic level. They range from a simple Bicinium to expansive symphony, sonata and fugue.

Each of the 7 organists has his own individual language, totally personal yet subject to the thematic requirements and moods of the ecclesiastical year from Advent, via Lent, death and mortality to the joy of Christmas in „O du fröhliche", and the "Halleluiah" of Easter.

To progress from the purely technical – as it were, the grammar of the language of music -- to the higher artistic spheres, inspiration is required. With improvisation this happens spontaneously, directly and totally incalculably on the instrument.

This is the all-decisive interface between player and listener: This is where the language becomes discernable; this is where exciting interaction can occur, which one cannot apprehend exactly, describe, much less plan for.

This aspect of our CD-series is especially worthy of attention: The 7 organ types, 7 different sonorities from the sound and response of individual pipes, individual registers, the mixture of registers, the sound of the complete work. How does the organist use the registers? How are certain sound mixtures produced and used? How do you the listener respond to the organ?

Furthermore, this CD series offers for the first time a documentation of the German art of improvisation.

Our thanks to the organists who agreed to participate in this exciting, difficult project. Some of the problems arose from the fact that improvisation, recording and a planned reproduction are a contradiction in terms. Improvisation means „live", no editing, no re-recording, no electronic touching-up. Even this was not always easy in the 7 recordings, chiefly because of external influences, including the noise of a surprise thunder-storm, street noise and church visitors. Some recordings took all night!

Thanks also to sound engineer Toms Spogis from the „Ambiente" label in Algermissen for the excellent and inspiring cooperation, and especially to the 7 organ builders, without whose support this project would have been impossible.

Music is a language and a communication! With this motto we wish you an exciting, provocative experience with our CD-series „Organ improvisations" offering the listener diversity of form and ever-new insights.

Vol.1: Advent - Ingo Bredenbach - Goll-Organ - Ev. Stadtkirche St. Laurentius zu Nürtingen

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Vol.2: Weihnachten - Franz Josef Stoiber - Göckel-Organ - St. Peter zu Düsseldorf

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Vol.3 Passion - Hans Martin Corrinth - Walcker-Organ  St. Georg in Ulm

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Vol.4: Ostern - Alfred Müller-Kranich - Weimbs-Organ - Kirche St. Michael in Aachen-Burtscheid

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Vol.5: Pfingsten - Jürgen Essl - Grenzing-Organ - Kathedrale in Brüssel

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Vol. 6: Heilige - Wolfgang Seifen - Stahlhuth-Jann-Organ - Kirche St. Martin Düdelingen

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Vol 7: Tod und Ewigkeit - Peter Planyavsky - Kögler Organ Haag (A)