Dorian Recordings
DOR-93216
(1653 - 1706)
The Complete Organ Works: Volume 10
Antoine Bouchard, Organ
Pachelbel's art found its fullest expression in his treatment of the chorale. He mastered all the forms current at the time for setting chorale melodies, and generally presented the chorale unadorned in a clearly recognizable form (the melismatic chorale was developed by Buxtehude and, especially, Bach). His 75 chorale preludes present a wide range of approaches, all designed to sustain musical interest. Although some pieces use the ancient two-voice bicinium technique, most are written in three or four voices; to meet the requirements of the liturgy, the chorale melody is usually heard unornamented in the soprano, or in the long note-values as a cantus firmus. However, Pachelbel is never restricted by formula, and the melody sometimes moves to the tenor or bass, or is enriched by a delicate ornamental mantle. The accompanying voices incorporate fragments of the chorale in augmentation or diminution, or sometimes in imitation, recalling the fugal style at the heart of Pachelbel's art; fugue, after all, amplifies and solemnises the musical discourse by multiplying the appearances of a single motif. Each phrase of the chorale is thus introduced by a short fugato, or a preceded by a fugal preamble. Above all, Pachelbel was drawn to composite structures, where all the resources of his musical language sould be used to illustrate the spiritual atmosphere of the chorale: sorrowful chromaticism, passing dissonance, delicate arabesque-like figures or expressive rythmical formulae. His variation on chorale melodies clearly served as a model for the young Bach in his organ partitas.
[to be continued]
Gilles Cantagrel
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[1] Aria in a Minor (POP 10) [2] Prelude in Eb Major (POP 251) [3] Toccata and Fugue in Bb Major (POP 286) [4] Fantasia in g Minor (POP 114) [5] Fugue in C Major (POP 137) [6] Fugue in C Major (POP 125) [7] Fugue in C Major (POP 126) [8] Fantasia in a Minor (POP 115) [9] Fugue in a Minor (POP 140) [10] Fantasia in d Minor (POP 112) [11] Fugue in b Minor (POP 121) [12] Toccata in e Minor (POP 281) [13] Fugue in e Minor (POP 123) [14] Toccata in C Major (POP 285) [15] Fugue in C Major (POP 143) [16] Toccata in D Major (POP 272) [17] Fugue in D Major (POP 134) [18] Chorale Prelude "Herr Gott, dich loben alle wir" (POP 55) [19] Chorale Prelude "Ich ruf' zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ" (POP 58) [20] Chorale Prelude "Ich ruf' zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ" (POP 59) [21] Chorale Prelude "In dich hab' ich gehoffet, Herr" (POP 60) [22] Chorale Prelude "Meine Seele erhebt den Herren" (POP 69) [23] Chorale Prelude "Meine Seele erhebt den Herren" (POP 70) [24] Chorale Prelude "Nun freut euch, lieben Christen g'mein" (POP 71) [25] Chorale Prelude "Nun lob, mein' Seel', den Herren" (POP 74) Total Program Length 64:35 Liturgical convenience for prayer of praise and gratitude: Tracks 18-25. |
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