Search - Johann Ludwig Krebs, Gerhard Gnann :: Krebs: Organ Works Vol.1

"More Than a Crab in the Brook"

Don G. Evans | Randallstown, MD USA | 12/08/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This splendid disc highlights a variety of Krebs' works for organ. Lovers of the brook (German "Bach") will want to check out this particular crab (German "Krebs"),* who began as a teenage student of the master in the Thomasschule in Leipzig and then went on to some reknown himself. He has undeservedly been largely forgotten except by a few organists and other conoisseurs. Gnann has selected a wonderful variety of Krebs pieces, all of which, toccatas, fugues, fantasias. trios and chorale preludes were genres popular with his teacher, whose influence he shows but augments with his own peculiar genius. Being quite a bit younger than Bach, Krebs music occasionally shows a trend towards the idiom of the later eighteenth century, but no one would mistake him for Mozart or Haydn. If anything he seems anxious to enter the Sturm und Drang of Beethoven. Gnann's performances on a wonderful Gabler organ from Weingarten do the music full justice. My only complaint is that at times the registrations seem a bit too heavy handed. But Krebs' genius always comes through. Bach admirers should not miss this disc. Let's have some more! *Sorry for the puns, but they are attributed to the master J.S.B. himself!"

Fantastic, underrated

Colin White | USA | 08/08/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is some fine organ music. A pity Krebs has been largely forgotten, but do not be fooled. These are works full of majesty and intrigue, a window into the human soul just as anything Bach would have wrote upon that magnificent instrument. The three massive works on here, those being the Toccatas and Fugues in E major and A minor, and the Prelude in C major, are the highlights of the disc. They prevail as being extraordinary works from a master composer, my favorite being the Prelude and fugue in C major. I think it has one of the finest fugal subjects I have ever encountered, the subject in Bach's A minor prelude and fugue is the only one that I like more. The other nocturnal works on the cd are also of good quality and taste, but the real core comes shining through in the more massive works.



Overall, this is a great set from a sadly underrated composer. Pick it up if you like organ music, you won't be disappointed."