12029 – Praeludium in G Minor

BuxWV146

Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707)

Arranged by Roger Harvey for 10 trombones

Difficulty: Hard

Price: £22.50

Programme notes:

Dietrich Buxtehude was undoubtedly the greatest organist and composer of sacred and keyboard music of the late 17th Century. His celebrity was such that the young pretender, to this title J. S. Bach, made a 250 mile trip by foot to hear him perform and to study his music. The young Bach's music was consequently heavily influenced by Buxtehude's style.

The organ, which Buxtehude wrote for, was a colourful instrument with a large number of stops, notably in the pedals. Hence, his style tends to exploit a much more inventive use of the pedals stops than hitherto. Formally his organ pieces were almost always in several sections: improvisatory passages alternating with 2 or 3 related fugal passages. The interludes between the fugues are normally of improvisatory character, virtuoso flourishes or bold harmonic gestures.

This Prelude was originally in f sharp minor.

Performance notes:

Try to match the voices in the divided line at the opening. The crotchet passage at bar 17 could benefit from some rubato and some dynamic movement; feel free to add some apt phrasing. As usual with fugal writing, make sure that the subject is always evident.