Nun komm der Heiden Heiland BWV 659 Uploaded by: Glebe Composer: Bach, J. S. Organ: Laurenskerk - Main Organ - 1973 Marcussen & Son Software: Hauptwerk IV Views: 658
Chant (1970) Uploaded by: CarsonCooman Composer: Young, Gordon Organ: Laurenskerk - Main Organ - 1973 Marcussen & Son Software: Hauptwerk IV Views: 649
I had only been playing organ for a few months when I found a long list of organ composers online. I saw Joseph Ahrens at the top of the list, so I looked up some recordings of his music. The opening of the Introitus immediately resonated with me and inspired me to learn the entire mass. Ahrens's use of early styles of counterpoint and chant in his liturgical music drew me to a deep appreciation for his music.
The Agnus Dei features some very clever counterpoint. The form is a simple alternating form, ABABABA, but each time a section is repeated, the voices are rearranged. In other words, the soprano part appears again in the bass, the former bass part is played in the tenor, and so forth.