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Dieterich BUXTEHUDE (c.1637-1707)
Complete Organ Works - Volume 3
Praeludium in D minor, BuxWV140 [7:19]
Danket dem Herren, BuxWV181 [2:55]
Canzonetta in G major, BuxWV172 [2:07]
Praeludium in G minor, BuxWV163 [7:52]
Canzona in E minor, BuxWV169 [2:44]
Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort, BuxWV185 [2:03]
Nun lob, mein Seel, den Herren, BuxWV212 [3:16]
Praeludium in F major, BuxWV145 [6:33]
Herr Jesu Christ, ich weiss gar wohl, BuxWV193 [2:27]
Magnificat primi toni, BuxWV203 [8:05]
Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ, BuxWV189 [1:47]
Es ist das Heil uns kommen her, BuxWV186 [2:30]
Puer natus in Bethlehem, BuxWV217 [0:54]
Praeludium in C major, BuxWV136 [6:17]
Komm heiliger Geist, Herre Gott, BuxWV200 [3:38]
Canzona in G major, BuxWV170 [3:46]
Herr Christ, der einig Gottes Sohn, BuxWV191 [3:33]
Praeludium in F sharp minor, BuxWV146 [7:35]
Christopher Herrick (organ)
rec. St-Louis-en-l'Īle, Paris, April 2010. DDD
HYPERION CDA67855 [75:21] 
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This is volume 3 in Christopher Herrick's complete organ works
of Dieterich Buxtehude on Hyperion. Volume 2 is reviewed
here (scroll down about a third of a page), with links to
some of the already completed cycles on other labels. Following
the (likely) tricentenary of Buxtehude's birth in 2007, there
are now, happily, dozens of CDs of his organ music available
that prove that he was every bit Johann Sebastian Bach's equal
on this magnificent instrument; the influence, after all, can
only have been in one direction.
This release is of mainly short pieces: the Canzonas,
Chorale Preludes, set of Choral Variations and
one of the Chorale Fantasias are all around three minutes
or less. Only the five Preludes (Praeludia) and the Magnificat
fantasia are more substantial; nevertheless, this is 75 minutes
of outstanding music and playing - elegant, flamboyant, uplifting,
exciting, mellifluous.
The Praeludia in particular are among of the most exhilarating
organ music of their - or any - time. The so-called stylus
fantasticus was never a term better applied, whether technically
or idiomatically, than to these bold, rollicking works. Christopher
Herrick puts in a performance worthy of Buxtehude, light and
fleet of finger and foot, instinctive and brilliant. He comes
as close as is possible to recreating on a recording the experience
of hearing Buxtehude improvising the thrilling Praeludium
in G minor or the soul-stirring, bone-shaking Praeludium
in F# minor - and what an experience it must have been!
Even the shortest pieces, like the lively two-minute Canzonetta,
manage to speak volumes about the inventiveness and virtuosity
of this still under-exposed composer.
The technical sound quality and church acoustics are generally
very good, and the organ at St-Louis-en-l'Ile - started only
in 2002 and inaugurated as recently as 2005 - glorious. As usual
with Hyperion, the CD booklet gives excellent detail on performer,
composer and music, even including a complete list of stops
employed for each piece. The picture on the front cover is not
of St Louis, but there is a black and white photo of the organ
inside the booklet.
Byzantion
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