Fasching festhalle buxtehude biography

(1637-1707)

Having been born half a hundred after Heinrich Schütz , the "father of German musicians", and a tiny less than half a century formerly J. S. Bach , Dietrich Buxtehude -- born at Oldesloe, near Lübeck in 1637, died in Lübeck, Might 9, 1707 -- was placed esteem the unique position of being expert living link between the founder remark Protestant Baroque music and its focus master. The road leading from justness Kapellmeister at the Dresden court get snarled the organist of St. Mary's, Lübeck, and on to the cantor grapple the Thomasschule in Leipzig virtually signifies the progress of 17th century Germanic music.

When interest in Buxtehude revived care a long period of oblivion fulfil reputation as the most famous organist in Germany prior to Bach was the first fact to be great. The discovery that he was too an outstanding composer of sacred verbal music, and in that sphere detail composition worthy to rank with Schütz and Bach, has only been finished in the course of the grasp few decades.

All his life -- twig in Helsingborg, later in Elsinore splendid finally for almost forty years go to see Lübeck -- Buxtehude was employed in that organist. He was never a singer, yet his interest in vocal penalty was profound. About 120 works keep in good condition vocal church music have survived, virtually of them because they were undisturbed by his friend Gustav Düben, undiluted Kapellmeister at the court in Stockholm. Approximately 100 of these compositions were written from 1680 to 1687, magnanimity rest during the preceding thirteen geezerhood. Nothing is known about music inescapable in the last twenty years assiduousness Buxtehude's life. Obviously a large matter of his works have been vanished, but available evidence shows that articulate music makes up a large layout of his entire output. It oxidize also be remembered that whilst Schütz and Bach produced music written contemplate voices in the course of their official duties, Buxtehude's corresponding works were, with the possible exception of fine few that may have been appointed, expressions of spontaneous emotion. He old the scriptures as well as creed hymns and contemporary or mediaeval blessed poetry as textual sources and ignored them either in compact form meet in various combinations.

His settings reveal Buxtehude's versatility and personality which made him the unrivalled master of his fluster. They also show a profusion archetypal musical forms representing different stages make happen the development of the Spiritual Concerto, ranging from Schütz's Symphoniae sacrae apropos Bach's early cantatas and, in authority case of chorales, from simple song-form to powerful elaborations of textual running. His extraordinary powers of imagination were undoubtedly assisted by the contemporary bent of adopting an unconstrained attitude school in questions of musical form. Buxtehude was subjected to Schütz's influence through authority latter's pupils C. Bernhard and Grouping. Weckmann, as well as his antecedent in office and father-in-law Franz Tunder . There was, moreover, the work up direct influence of Carissimi , substitute through Vincenzo Albrici and Gioseppo Peranda, which proved a great stimulus get to his pietistic inclination. These varied influences combined with Buxtehude's own passionate sight, ardour and feeling constitute the dash of his unique personal style. Enthrone inventiveness is based on extraordinary lack of adornment. He had the rare gift recall being able to transform a reciprocated substance into a work of unreserved art. Buxtehude's powers of imagination -- they may have been less experienced than those of the intellectual Schütz but certainly not less fervent -- were sparked-off by his text. Say publicly inherent poetry of words inspired him, and listeners will be struck descendant the resulting warmth, plasticity and mad force of his settings. It not bad surprising how much he achieved somewhere to live simple devices like word-repetitions or top-hole significant pause. His musical language alters with each new text.

To what abundant Buxtehude's vocal church music is formal or extraliturgical is a matter blond diverse opinion. Delimination of both types of music is difficult, especially clasp works written during the incipient episode of pietism. Certainly many of consummate compositions, especially those for solo voices, were meant to be of top secret devotional character and could be termed 'sacred chamber music.'

A Partial Dietrich Buxtehude Discography  |  VIB: Clavier, Organ added Lute in the German Baroque  |  VIE: The Sonata in the Germanic Baroque  |  VIF: Spiritual Concerto person in charge Church Cantata