Search - Johann Gottfried Walther, Craig Cramer :: Walther: Organ Works, Vol. 1

Another forgotten great composer finally remembered.

Norbert J. Fronczak | Traverse City, MI USA | 07/07/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Johann Gotfried Walther(1684-1748) is yet another one of those undeservedly neglected composers who is finally receiving his long overdue recognition through this excellent Vol.1 recording of his works. His fame lies mainly in the fact that he was the first person in the Germanic states to compile a music lexicon using the German language and not Latin and that he was also the very first person to write a short biogarphical account of his illustrious cousin J.S. Bach. Even in musicological circles at present his accomplishments in composition are widely ignored or dismissed. The fact remains however that it was he that introduced Bach to arranging for harpsichord and organ the various concerti by Italian composers. In this particular form Walther pretty much equals Bach not only in quantity but also quality. On this recording we get to hear just that fact more than adequately performed by the American organist Craig Cramer. His selection for this recording of the late Baroque organ built in 1767 by Franciscus Vockland is only yet another demonstration of his fine artistry and sensitive attention to musicological detail. As I've written in other reviews, it's not only the composer and his music that make for enjoyable listening. It's also the musician and his/her knowledge of a particular musical period and the individual instrument chosen to be performed on. All these parts are highly integral to a great overall performance such as this one. On this recording are presented several concerti by composers some of which are well known such as Albinoni and Telemann and a few lesser or unknown composers as "Sigr. Meck" and "Sigr. Gentili." That however does not make them any less in quality of composition. Walther selected well in his deciding which concerti to arrange. Actually, this makes me wonder what these same concerti might have sounded like in their original format of solo violin and strings. It's worth further investigation on the part of any "original instruments" group to seek out these works for some future performance and recording. Besides the concerti, we are privileged to hear some of Walther's chorale prelude treatments which again are most assuredly on par with any of those by Bach. However, as mentioned in the linear notes, Walther unfortunately did not compose any cantatas because as quoted from a letter of his, "it's not my job as organist." He was never to hold the important post of Kapellmeister which would have required him to compose vocal and choral music as well as for organ. More is the pity that he seemingly didn't take the initiative in exploring his own great talent further. By evidence of this recording he proves to be much more than just a qualified or "competent" composer. In any case, do not miss this performance. As with some of the other titles in this series from NAXOS, I anxiously await their release of Vol.2 and so on, of Walther's highly enjoyable and stimlualting "orgelwerken.""

Another Jewel from the Bach Circle

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

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Mr. Fronczak pretty much says it all about this first-rate disc. Walther is one of the very few major writers about music who could also produce compositions of the first quality (Fux is another who comes to mind). He seems to have been especially fond of concerto arrangements, but, unlike Bach, who was particularly enamored of Vivaldi, many of Walther's sources are obscure. I agree with Mr. Fronczak that a "(de?)reconstruction" of these works for a string ensemble would be a great project for any baroque orchestra. The other genres represented on this disc are also excellent. If Cramer's performance of "Lobe den Herren" (the popular English hymn "Praise ye the Lord, the Almighty the King of Creation") doesn't make you stand up and cheer, you are already dead. I'll be anxiously awaiting more Walther and other fine organists from this Naxos project-- and the price is right! Meanwhile, listeners should check out Naxos' equally fine disc of Bach's student, Johann Ludwig Krebs."

Kellner's Bach Temperament

David Benson | Aberdeen | 10/21/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For all you temperament lovers out there, this recording was made using the Tröchtelborn organ restored in Kellner's reconstruction of Bach's temperament.

For more information about this organ, go to http://www.gdo.de/neurest/troechtelborn.html.

For more information on Kellner's Bach temperament, go to his site: http://ha.kellner.bei.t-online.de.

There's no information about temperament in the CD sleeve."