Walther, Williamson, and Walcha #1445
…three wildly different composers, one from the German Baroque and a pair from 20th century Germany and England, make for interesting contrasts.
Hour 1
JOHANN GOTTFRIED WALTHER: Prelude and Fugue in A –Olivier Vernet (1985 Ahrend/Jesuit Church, Porrentruy, Switzerland) Ligia Digital 0104064-98
WALTHER: Partita, Jesu meine Freude –Harald Vogel (1737 Treutmann/Cloister Church, Grauhof, Germany) Loft 2102
HELMUT WALCHA: Fröhlich soll mein Herze springen -- Renate Meierjürgen, recorded September 1980 (1961 Karl Schuke/Dreikönigskirche, Frankfurt, Germany) Motette 10391
WALCHA: 2 Chorale-preludes (Bis hierher hat mich Gott gebracht; Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hält) –Delbert Disselhorst (2004 Brombaugh/1st Presbyterian Church, Springfield, IL) Naxos 8.572913
MALCOLM WILLIAMSON: Prelude, Sonata and Toccata, fr Symphony for Organ (1960) –Tom Bell (1970 Harrison/Durham Cathedral, England) Regent 409; Tom Winpenny (1912 Harrison/St. Mary Redcliffe, Bristol, England) Toccata Classics 0246
WALCHA: 3 Chorale-preludes (Gott des Himmels und der Erden; Wenn wir in höchsten Nöten sein; Lobet den Herren) –Wolfgang Rübsam (2004 Brombaugh/1st Presbyterian Church, Springfield, IL) Naxos 8.572911
Hour 2
WALTHER: Es ist das Heil uns kommen her; Concerto in d (after Sigr. Torelli) –Craig Cramer (1767 Volckland/St. Bonifacius Church, Tröchtelborn) Naxos 8.554316
WALCHA: Mit Freuden zart –Wolfgang Rübsam (2004 Brombaugh/1st Presbyterian Church, Springfield, IL) Naxos 8.572911
WILLIAMSON: The Lion of Suffolk (1977) --Tom Winpenny (1912 Harrison/St. Mary Redcliffe, Bristol, England) Toccata Classics 0246
WALTHER: Variations on a Theme of Corelli –Olivier Vernet (1985 Ahrend/Jesuit Church, Porrentruy, Switzerland) Ligia Digital 0104064-98
WALTHER: Partita, Meinen Jesum lass ich nicht –E. Power Biggs (1725 F.C. Schnitger.St. Laurens Church, Alkmaar, The Netherlands) Columbia M2S-697
WILLIAMSON: Aria II-Passacaglia, fr Symphony for Organ (1960) –Tom Bell (1970 Harrison/Durham Cathedral, England) Regent 409
WALCHA: Ich weiss, mein Gott, das all mein Tun; Postludium –Delbert Disselhorst (2004 Brombaugh/1st Presbyterian Church, Springfield, IL) Naxos 8.572913
Johann Gottfried Walther (1684-1748), Bach’s cousin, served with him in Weimar. Helmut Walcha (1907-1991), noted Bach interpretor, created some remarkable chorale settings in a neo-Baroque style, a kind of modern Orgelbüchlein. Malcolm Williamson (1931-2003), Master of the Queen’s Music from 1975 to 2003, raised some eyebrows with his modernist compositions years ago, and may still!
to comments from Professor Emeritus Delbert Disselhorst discussing the music of Helmut Walcha, with whom he studied on a Fulbright Scholarship years ago.
