Praeludium & Fuge, BWV 539 Uploaded by: yolar Composer: Bach, Johann Sebastian Organ: 2012 Metzler, Poblet Abbey, Spain Software: Hauptwerk VI Views: 227
Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr Uploaded by: ajongbloed Composer: Kauffmann, Georg Friedrich Organ: Müller Grote of Sint Bavo extended Software: Hauptwerk IV Views: 51
Misty Blue (2023) Uploaded by: CarsonCooman Composer: Stevens, James Michael Organ: Müller Grote of Sint Bavo extended Software: Hauptwerk VII Views: 39
Besides the works attributed to a composer, the Leipziger manuscript with signature Becker II.2.51 preserves two preludes and fugues and two fugues without a named composer. The preludes are in the North German style and the four fugues share strong similarities with the three fugues that do bear the name of Georg Wilhelm Saxer. The counterpoint is not really sophisticated and musical development is mostly absent. The fugues consist of several (2, 3 or 4) expositions in a row with hardly any episodic material between them. It is a reasonable supposition these works were composed by Saxer as well.
The first of the wordk is the Prelude and in Fugue in B flat major. The prelude is a joyfull piece in the typical stylus phantisticus, with some daring harmonies (bar 34). It is followed by a stately, solemn fugue.
Now, I'm hardly the first to play or record this music. An excellent recording of Saxer's music is available at Channel Classics, played by Manuel Tomadin. To emphasize the stately character of the fugue he plays the fugue with a 32' feet reed in the pedals. The effect is staggering, so I decided to use the 32' Bazuin of Haarlem as well in the fugue. Untill now I've used it only one time in a recording and then only in the final chord. I never thought it could actually be used in polyphonic music. How wrong I was...