Dieterich Buxtehude (c. 1637 to 1639) was a
German-Danish organist and composer of the Baroque
period. His organ works represent a central part of the
standard organ repertoire and are frequently performed
at recitals and in church services. He composed in a
wide variety of vocal and instrumental idioms, and his
style strongly influenced many composers, including
Johann Sebastian Bach. Buxtehude, along with Heinrich
Schütz, is considered today to be one of the most
important German composers of...(+)
Dieterich Buxtehude (c. 1637 to 1639) was a
German-Danish organist and composer of the Baroque
period. His organ works represent a central part of the
standard organ repertoire and are frequently performed
at recitals and in church services. He composed in a
wide variety of vocal and instrumental idioms, and his
style strongly influenced many composers, including
Johann Sebastian Bach. Buxtehude, along with Heinrich
Schütz, is considered today to be one of the most
important German composers of the mid-Baroque.
Buxtehude writes two different settings of the text
from Psalm 73:25-26. Both are scored for soprano and
strings. "Herr, wenn ich nur dich habe" (BuxWV 39), the
shorter of the two, is a typical seventeenth century
small-scale sacred concerto with each segment of text
set with new music. The piece concludes with a joyfully
imitative alleluia. While the psalm setting starts off
like any other seventeenth century sacred concerto,
Buxtehude tacks on a two verse strophic aria at the end
of the psalm followed by a jubilant amen.
Although originally created for soprano and strings, I
adapted this work for woodwind quartet (Flute, Alto
Flute, Oboe and Bassoon). Note that I chose the Alto
Flute as opposed to the Clarinet commonly used in
Woodwind Quartets due to its uniquely responsive lower
register and a very warm and projecting sound over all
octaves.