SKU: HL.49045437
ISBN 9790001162715. UPC: 841886029088. 9.0x12.0x0.168 inches.
On the occasion of the quincentenary of Reformation Day in 2017, the composer Enjott Schneider thoroughly studied Martin Luther the individual and all his contradictions. The result is a brilliant, demanding organ symphony which is perfect for concerts on the subject of Reformation and Martin Luther.The composer describes the five movements of the symphony as follows:'1st movement:Wir glauben all an einen Gott with its quintuplet-like beginning is very Gregorian in style, outlining the range of Lutheran emotionalism between the Middle Ages and the modern era. The irrationality of faith ultimately has priority over any thought and evidence. At the beginning of the movement, sounds of knocking on wood remind of the nailing of the Ninety-Five Theses to the doors of churches in Wittenberg. The chorale melody sometimes hides with an almost rough medieval saltarello, referring to Luther's robustness and vitality with which he knew to carry away even common people.2nd movement:In 1530, the electoral prince of Saxony presented to Luther at Coburg Castle the golden signet ring with the Luther rose which became the symbol of his theology of grace. A white heart with black cross is fixed on a five-petalled rose. To him, white is the colour of angels and ghosts, black stands for the pain of crucification: The just shall live by faith, but by faith in the Crucified. But the fact that the rose and the heart are the dominating symbols shows how Catholic Marian piety remained an ingredient of Luther's spirituality throughout his life. In line with the dominant five-petal structure of the rose, this movement was composed, to a large extent, in accordance with the floating, lyrical rhythm in 5/8 time.3rd movement:The omnipresence of death and dying - from the plague and war to the never-ending dangers of daily life - was an essential part of the world view of that time. Fears ensued that might heighten into the grotesque, e.g. in the pictures of Hieronymus Bosch. The Danse macabre was a popular motif in those years. Luther's chorale Mitten wir im Leben sind / mit dem Tod umfangen from 1524 (Enchiridion from Erfurt) is based on the Gregorian chant Media vita in morte sumus created in France around 750 and, with its idea of transience, inspired a simplistic air.4th movement:The famous confession delivered at the Diet of Worms in 1521, I stand here and can say no more. God help me. Amen, are not Luther's words but the version later used as text for a pamphlet. However, it represents quite plainly the straightforwardness and inevitability of his mission. Musically, it was made into a perpetuum mobile, i.e. a dogged, ostinato and never-ending musical air.5th movement:The Mighty Fortress, on the other hand, is one of the great symbols of Martin Luther which, with its shining C major key, embodies the Protestant ideology and willful nature of the Reformation unlike any other song. Heinrich Heine called it the Marseille anthem of the Reformation, Friedrich Engels the Marseillaise of the Peasants' Wars. This disputability is not thought through to the end but rather interrupted: With a jubilant birdcall version of the melody, the finale shows a rather chamber-music-like side of the ideals of freedom of Christians.'.
SKU: BR.EB-8809
You will find supplementary material online
Baroque period. Score. 184 pages. Breitkopf and Haertel #EB 8809. Published by Breitkopf and Haertel (BR.EB-8809).
ISBN 9790004183786. 12.5 x 10 inches.
The now-published volumes 9 and 10 have presented a special challenge, for particularly in the field of the chorale arrangements the transmissions are more complex than in any other group of works. This ties in with the crucial question of Bach's authorship, which has been the subject of much controversy in the past. There were heated discussions about it even just prior to our edition, and editors and publisher are aware that the present selection is a thoroughly debatable snapshot. More on this in the volumes' text sections. The situation of the chorale partitas is not quite so dramatic, whereby these holdings also had to be subdivided for reasons of transmission into main section, appendix, and online presentation. The so called ,,Neumeister-Chorale are incorporated in the group of the separately transmitted chorale settings in alphabetical order, because the compilation of the pieces does not follow any collection idea of Bach (such as, for example, his larger late collections). The indication ,,Neumeister-Sammlung should facilitate the attribution. Those works requiring further research, besides of some versions, are presented online, since their profile reveals less evidence of the true author. Breitkopf has given the world a splendid edition of the organ works of Bach. These final two volumes offer a wealth of chorale-based music benefiting from the very latest research. Aside from the edition's obvious scholarly merit, a practicing church organist will love the convenience and variety of these volumes. Recommended without hesitation.(Jonathan B. Hall, The American Organist).
SKU: BR.EB-8810
ISBN 9790004183793. 12.5 x 10 inches.
The now-published volumes 9 and 10 have presented a special challenge, for particularly in the field of the chorale arrangements the transmissions are more complex than in any other group of works. This ties in with the crucial question of Bach's authorship, which has been the subject of much controversy in the past. There were heated discussions about it even just prior to our edition, and editors and publisher are aware that the present selection is a thoroughly debatable snapshot. More on this in the volumes' text sections. The so called ,,Neumeister-Chorale are incorporated in the group of the separately transmitted chorale settings in alphabetical order, because the compilation of the pieces does not follow any collection idea of Bach (such as, for example, his larger late collections). The indication ,,Neumeister-Sammlung should facilitate the attribution. Those works requiring further research, besides of some versions, are presented online, since their profile reveals less evidence of the true author. Breitkopf has given the world a splendid edition of the organ works of Bach. These final two volumes offer a wealth of chorale-based music benefiting from the very latest research. Aside from the edition's obvious scholarly merit, a practicing church organist will love the convenience and variety of these volumes. Recommended without hesitation.(Jonathan B. Hall, The American Organist).