Johann Caspar Ferdinand Fischer
Synopsis
Johann Caspar Ferdinand Fischer (1656-1746) was a German composer who influenced composers in the generation before J.S. Bach. He composed italianate vocal compositions, liturgical organ works in the German tradition, and orchestral and keyboard works. Fischer was responsible for bringing a French influence into German music.[1]
Oxford Music Online had this to say concerning Fischer's organ works:
Of the two organ collections, Praeludia et Fugae per 8 tonos ecclesiasticos, a cycle of versets for alternatim performance in divine service, seems to date from the beginning of the 18th century but was not published until later. Although its themes (which are repeated and inverted in successive versets) are more malleable and its counterpoints more masterly, it is stylistically on a par with the composer's other organ collection, Ariadne musica. Because of the large number of keys employed, the 20 preludes and fugues of Ariadne musica are historically more important. The original print of 1702 is lost, but a manuscript copy in the Minorite convent in Vienna and a mention in Walther's Lexicon provide evidence of its existence. This series of pieces begins in C major and ends, after 18 keys with accidentals, in C minor (closing in the major). The collection contributed to the question of the tempered tuning of keyboard instruments, described most clearly and thoroughly by Werckmeister in his Orgel-Probe (1681) and more particularly in its second edition (1698). J.S. Bach knew and valued the collection, and adopted some of the themes in Das wohltemperierte Clavier.
Fischer's bold venture was probably the result of cooperation with an organ builder who had a liking for experiments. With the consent of Abbot Raimund Wilfert of Tepl, to whom Ariadne musica is dedicated, Fischer and Abraham Stark (1659–1709), an organ builder from Elbogen, tuned the choir organ of Tepl monastery to something approaching equal temperament in 1700. Their success was followed by the composition and printing of Ariadne musica, an experiment which Fischer repeated, although with fewer keys, in the litanies printed in 1711. He later added a conservative appendix to Ariadne: five ricercares on Catholic hymns, preludes to the main feasts of the church year.[2]
For details, see the Johann Caspar Ferdinand Fischer Wikipedia article.
List of Organ Works
| Title |
|---|
| Praeludia et Fugae per 8 tonos ecclesiasticos |
| Ariadne musica |
Background and General Perspectives on Performing Fischer 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[3]
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
Johann Caspar Ferdinand Fischer - Chaconne (Euterpe), performed by Massimo Gabba [1]
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.
