Conrad Paumann

Synopsis

Conrad Paumann (1410-1473) was a blind German lutenist, organist, and composer and "acquired a reputation as Germany's foremost organist." Few of his works have survived. "Since his blindness prohibited him from writing down his own compositions, they could be recorded only from dictation. For this reason Virdung's attribution to him of the invention of German lute tablature (Musica getutscht, 1511) seems quite plausible, for it would have been particularly suitable for dictating music. The transmission of the Fundamenta is especially complicated because the extant sources reflect various stages of Paumann's didactic practices.....Despite his very limited surviving output, Paumann must be considered the leading figure in 15th-century German instrumental music, known internationally not only as a virtuoso but also as a composer. Even in the 17th and 18th centuries he was still remembered as ‘the very best organist’ (H. Canisius: Lectiones antiquae, 1601–4) and ‘in all musical arts the most expert and the most famous’ (J. Staindl: Chronicon generale, 1763).....Paumann's organ works, settings of secular cantus firmi, are obviously the first of their kind to reflect the stylistic influence of the Burgundian chanson, especially with respect to the skilful handling of the three-part texture.

"Characteristic of his organ style is the balancing of a highly ornamented discant, often using standard virtuoso figuration, and a solid tenor-countertenor basis. He deserves credit for refining the practice of the Fundamentum as a method of teaching organists. Though his Fundamenta, like earlier examples, still rely on formulae for their ornamental discants to given tenor patterns, they cease to be improvisation and become composition in the mature three-part pieces (e.g. no.5)."

For additional details, see the Conrad Paumann article on Wikipedia.

Background and General Perspectives on Performing Paumann Organ Works

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Registration and Organs

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Fingering and Pedaling

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Articulation and Phrasing

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Ornamentation

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Tempo and Meter

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Scores and Editions

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Recordings

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Free Online

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Other Resources

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Notes

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