Search - Gustav Leonhardt :: Northern German Organ Works

Sublime listening!

Brandon Davis | Olympia, WA USA | 07/12/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is not just music but a collection of some of the best sounds that you will ever hear. Here we have a recording of one of the world's greatest organs. The St. Jocobi organ was first completed in 1693 by the master German organ builder Arp Schnitger. The instrument suffered loss of some of its parts during the World Wars but most of it was carefully stored out of reach of the bombs that destroyed the church building during WWII. Now the organ lives again in its 17th century glory thanks to a diligent restoration carried out by experts. It is played wonderfully by Gustav Leonhardt. The music on this recording is truly sublime and favors our ears as it is played on an organ known to some of the composers featured. Anyone who loves early organ music will surely enjoy this disc. Those who are not yet lovers of early organ music might just be persuaded. The recording employs the latest technology and is of an extremely high quality. The organ has a wide variety of pipes. We hear soft and sweet flutes, nasal but graceful reeds (an endearing trait of the German organs of the 17th and 18th centuries), lovely principals, and bright and shimmering mixtures. Leonhardt's program shows off the organ well and will introduce many to some of the superb German composers who influenced Bach! The most expansive work on the recording is the "Magnificat on the Sixth Tone" of Scheidemann. This piece is a true highlight, displaying some of the organs most beautiful sounds. The Praeludium in d minor of Bruhns is a powerful display, leaving listeners in awe. Leonhardt's playing is admirable due to his excellent articulation, carefully chosen tempi, ingenious choice of stops, and stirring flare imbued into the large scale pieces. Enjoy the music of a masterpiece of the master craftsman Arp Schnitger, a man who has left an indelible mark on the art of organ building!"