Jesus, meine Zuversicht

Theofil Forchammer (1847-1923) was appointed organist of the Cathedral at Magdeburg in 1886, having succeeded the great August Ritter.

He was a highly regarded organist, and wrote over 1800 chorale preludes, of which only a small number where ever published. The bulk of his compositions were destroyed in World War II.

"Jesus, meine Zuversicht" is an interesting setting. It is quite chromatic, and features a canon at the fifth, with the right playing the tune (and the accompaniment) "in C", and the left hand, played upon the Solo Tromba, playing the tune "in F" and two bars behind. The piece ends with a crescendo, and culminates squarely in C major.

This work is taken from the "Incognita Organo" series (Volume 37), which is still available from Harmonia.

I will play this today as part of a recital, "Music of the German Romantics," featuring five chorale preludes, as well as Sonatas by Mendelssohn and Rheinberger. This setting will contrast with one by Fink.