Dieterich Buxtehude
Synopsis
German-Danish organist and composer
- 1637 born in Helsingborg, Skåne (then in Denmark)
- 1657-58 Helsingborg
- 1660-68 Helsingør
- 1668-1707 Lübeck
Though Danish by birth, Dieterich Buxtehude (1637-1707) is considered a member of the North German organ school. Buxtehude showed early skill at the keyboard, probably receiving his earliest instruction from his father, Joahann. He received his first official post as organist in 1657, in Helsingburg. By 1668 Buxtehude moved to Lübeck, Germany as the successor to Franz Tunder at the Marienkirche. (Buxtehude was only given the position at the Marienkirche under the stipulation that he would marry Franz Tunder's daughter. Handel went to Lübeck to succeed Buxtehude, but chose not to accept the position due to the marriage clause. It is presumed that Bach, too, considered taking Buxtehude'ss position, deferred by the same.) One of his greatest contributions there was his establishment of "Abendmusik"–evening concerts of organ and choral music held annually the five Sundays before Christmas.
The story is told that Bach once traveled 200 miles on foot to hear Buxtehude play. Buxtehude's music brought North German organ composition to its apex. He worked with many different forms, including praeludia, toccatas, and chorale preludes. In sectional forms, Buxtehude began using motives to unify and bring cohesiveness to his music. His Thirty Short Chorale Preludes are representative of the ornamented melody chorale style, which influenced Bach. All his compositions reflect his ability to combine virtuosity and drama with sensitivity and discretion.[1]
For details, see the Dietrich Buxtehude article on Wikipedia.
List of Free Organ Works (BuxWV 136-76, 225)
List of Chorale-Based Works and Magnificats (BuxWV 177-224)
Background and General Perspectives on Performing Buxtehude Organ Works
Replace this text with any general perspectives that do not fit under the categories listed below. (For comments on a specific piece or genre, use the list of pieces above to navigate to that page.)
Registration and Organs
Replace this text with information on registration and organs that might be applicable to the whole set of pieces
See the footnote in the "Notes" section at the bottom of the page. [2]
Fingering and Pedaling
Replace this text with information on fingering and pedaling that might be applicable to the whole set of pieces
Articulation and Phrasing
Replace this text with information on articulation and phrasing that might be applicable to the whole set of pieces
Ornamentation
Replace this text with information on ornamentation that might be applicable to the whole set of pieces
Tempo and Meter
Replace this text with information on tempo and meter that might be applicable to the whole set of pieces
Scores and Editions
Replace this text with information on scores and editions that might be applicable to the whole set of pieces
Recordings
Replace this text with information on recordings
Free Online
D. Buxtehude - Prelude in E major, BuxWV 141, performed by Harold Vogel
Pay to Listen
Replace this text with information on online recordings that are available for a fee
Other Resources
Replace this text with information on other resources that might be pertinent to performing these pieces
Notes
This space is for automatic insertion of footnotes. To enter a footnote from anywhere in the article, start by typing the tag <ref> and then enter the text, and type the tag </ref> to end the footnote. The footnote will then appear in this "Notes" section automatically.
