Reviews of some of the original recordings that make up this set:
This anthology is quite a treasure trove of experiences. The instruments are all small ones, but without exception extraordinarily versatile. The oldest one (1599) in Churburg Castle, a mean-tone instrument, has a Filomena (Nightingale) stop, which may be heard in the anonymous gagliarda Lodesana and a Geswitscher (Twittering) stop evident in the Ammerbach prelude. Gustav Leonhardt has carefully planned his programme to demonstrate each organ's characteristics. For instance, the gospel organ at Muri (presumably so named because of its position on the Gospel, or south side of the chancel, where it could play or accompany appropriate music before the GospelRead more reading) has the old unequal temperament, and the effect of this is strikingly evident in Merula's chromatic caprice, which inevitably produces the occasional howl. Pasquini's Ricercare No. 4 demonstrates the very beautiful flutes. This organ really does wash the ears. 1 found the Stams organ hardest to take for long. Its brightness is a little overpowering. But then, there is no point in playing the whole lot through in one go. The playing throughout is a delight, beautifully articulated and phrased, and the recording quality is always clear and direct.
-- G. R., Gramophone
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Leonhardt's recordings as an organist are too rare. No other player can draw such poetic intensity, and with such patrician restraint, fromjust a single stop. Even in full rhetorical flight, he conveys the impression of projecting not for an audience in general but for the single listener in particular: the grave lyricism of Deiphin Strungk's Lass mich Dein sein is as compelling as the stuttering, inebriate humour of Reincken's G minor Fugue. The organs here are both historic and beautiful—the 33-stop instrument in Roskilde Cathedral, restored by Marcussen between 1988 and 1991 (Denmark's only substantial organ of the seventeenth century and earlier) and the second largest of all Schnitger's surviving organs in Germany, the four manual, 47-stop instrument at Norden in East Friesland, brilliantly restored by Jurgen Ahrend in the early 1980s. Leonhardt's fans will read no further; the disc is certainly an enjoyable collection from the German seventeenth century."
A Pavanby Newman, Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Renaissance Written: 16th Century; England Date of Recording: 10/06/1970 Venue: Churburg Castle, Val Venosta, Italy Length: 2 Minutes 7 Secs.
2.
Orgel oder Instrument Tabulatur: Wer das Töchterlein habenby Elias Nikolaus Ammerbach Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Renaissance Written: by 1583; Germany Date of Recording: 10/06/1970 Venue: Churburg Castle, Val Venosta, Italy Length: 1 Minutes 1 Secs.
3.
Pavan and Galliardby Taylor, Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Renaissance Date of Recording: 10/06/1970 Venue: Churburg Castle, Val Venosta, Italy Length: 2 Minutes 38 Secs.
4.
Eterne rerumby John Blitheman Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Renaissance Written: 16th Century; England Date of Recording: 10/06/1970 Venue: Churburg Castle, Val Venosta, Italy Length: 1 Minutes 26 Secs.
5.
Pavane and Galliardby Anonymous Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Renaissance Written: by 1570 Date of Recording: 10/06/1970 Venue: Churburg Castle, Val Venosta, Italy Length: 2 Minutes 43 Secs.
6.
Intabolatura Nova di Balli: Gagliarda "Cathaccio"by Anonymous Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Renaissance Written: by 1551 Date of Recording: 10/06/1970 Venue: Churburg Castle, Val Venosta, Italy Length: 0 Minutes 45 Secs.
7.
Intabolatura Nova di Balli: Gagliarda "Lodesana"by Anonymous Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Renaissance Written: by 1551 Date of Recording: 10/06/1970 Venue: Churburg Castle, Val Venosta, Italy Length: 1 Minutes 3 Secs.
8.
Toccata and Fugue for Organ in B flat majorby Johann Pachelbel Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: Germany Date of Recording: 08/25/1972 Venue: St. James Church, Grisons, Switzerland Length: 2 Minutes 28 Secs.
9.
Alle Menschen müssen sterbenby Johann Pachelbel Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: Germany Date of Recording: 08/25/1972 Venue: St. James Church, Grisons, Switzerland Length: 1 Minutes 12 Secs.
10.
Toccata for Keyboard no 4 in E major "Cromatica Durezze e Ligature"by Johann Kaspar Kerll Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: 17th Century; Germany Date of Recording: 08/25/1972 Venue: St. James Church, Grisons, Switzerland Length: 5 Minutes 33 Secs.
Un cromatico ovvero Capricioby Tarquinio Merula Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Date of Recording: 08/23/1972 Venue: Klosterkirche, Muri, Aargau, Switzerland Length: 4 Minutes 19 Secs.
13.
Canzone francese: no 7by Bernardo Pasquini Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Date of Recording: 08/23/1972 Venue: Klosterkirche, Muri, Aargau, Switzerland Length: 2 Minutes 45 Secs.
14.
Ricercare for Organ no 4by Bernardo Pasquini Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: Italy Date of Recording: 08/23/1972 Venue: Klosterkirche, Muri, Aargau, Switzerland Length: 5 Minutes 48 Secs.
15.
Magnificat Fugues (95) for Organ: Fugue Sexti Toniby Johann Pachelbel Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: Germany Date of Recording: 08/23/1972 Venue: Klosterkirche, Muri, Aargau, Switzerland Length: 1 Minutes 29 Secs.
16.
Magnificat Fugues (95) for Organ: Fugue septimi toni no 4by Johann Pachelbel Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: Germany Date of Recording: 08/23/1972 Venue: Klosterkirche, Muri, Aargau, Switzerland Length: 2 Minutes 20 Secs.
17.
Magnificat Fugues (95) for Organ: Fugue octavi toni no 13by Johann Pachelbel Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: Germany Date of Recording: 08/23/1972 Venue: Klosterkirche, Muri, Aargau, Switzerland Length: 1 Minutes 12 Secs.
18.
Prelude and Fugue for Organ in G majorby Friedrick Wilhelm Zachow Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Date of Recording: 08/23/1972 Venue: Klosterkirche, Muri, Aargau, Switzerland Length: 3 Minutes 11 Secs.
Canzona in G minorby Johann Kaspar Kerll Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: 17th Century; Germany Date of Recording: 04/06/1971 Venue: Premonstratensian Abbey, Innsbruck Length: 2 Minutes 26 Secs.
21.
Libro quarto di toccate: Ricercare no 1 in D minorby Johann Jacob Froberger Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: by 1656; Germany Date of Recording: 04/06/1971 Venue: Premonstratensian Abbey, Innsbruck Length: 5 Minutes 13 Secs.
22.
Libro di capricci e ricercate: Capriccio no 8 in A minorby Johann Jacob Froberger Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: circa 1658; Germany Date of Recording: 04/06/1971 Venue: Premonstratensian Abbey, Innsbruck Length: 5 Minutes 17 Secs.
23.
Toccatas and Fugues (9) for Organ: no 3 in A minorby Johann Ernst Eberlin Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: by 1747; Germany Date of Recording: 04/05/1971 Venue: Cistercian Abbey, Wilhering-bei-Linz Length: 8 Minutes 46 Secs.
24.
Sonata quintaby Johann Joseph Fux Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: Germany Date of Recording: 04/05/1971 Venue: Cictercian Abbey, Wilhering-bei-Linz Length: 4 Minutes 6 Secs.
25.
Ariadne Musica: Prelude and Fugue for Organ no 20 in C minorby Johann Caspar Fischer Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: by 1702; Germany Date of Recording: 04/05/1971 Venue: Cictercian Abbey, Wilhering-bei-Linz Length: 3 Minutes 5 Secs.
26.
Ariadne Musica: Prelude and Fugue for Organ no 18 in B minorby Johann Caspar Fischer Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: by 1702; Germany Date of Recording: 04/05/1971 Venue: Cictercian Abbey, Stams, Tyrol, Austria Length: 2 Minutes 38 Secs.
27.
Ariadne Musica: Prelude and Fugue for Organ no 4 in D majorby Johann Caspar Fischer Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: by 1702; Germany Date of Recording: 04/06/1971 Venue: Cictercian Abbey, Stams, Tyrol, Austria Length: 1 Minutes 36 Secs.
28.
Ariadne Musica: Prelude and Fugue for Organ no 5 in E flat majorby Johann Caspar Fischer Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: by 1702; Germany Date of Recording: 04/06/1971 Venue: Cictercian Abbey, Stams, Tyrol, Austria Length: 2 Minutes 32 Secs.
29.
Toccatas and Fugues (9) for Organ: no 6 in F majorby Johann Ernst Eberlin Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: by 1747; Germany Date of Recording: 04/06/1971 Venue: Cictercian Abbey, Stams, Tyrol, Austria Length: 1 Minutes 59 Secs.
30.
Klavierübung, Part 1: no 3, Jesu meine Freudeby Johann Ludwig Krebs Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: 18th Century; Germany Date of Recording: 04/06/1971 Venue: Cictercian Abbey, Stams, Tyrol, Austria Length: 1 Minutes 21 Secs.
31.
Jesu, meine Zuversichtby Johann Ludwig Krebs Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: 18th Century; Germany Date of Recording: 04/06/1971 Venue: Cictercian Abbey, Stams, Tyrol, Austria Length: 1 Minutes 46 Secs.
32.
Von Gott will ich nicht lassenby Johann Ludwig Krebs Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: 18th Century; Germany Date of Recording: 04/06/1971 Venue: Cictercian Abbey, Stams, Tyrol, Austria Length: 1 Minutes 48 Secs.
33.
Fugue for Organ in G minorby Gottlieb Muffat Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: 18th Century; Germany Date of Recording: 04/06/1971 Venue: Cictercian Abbey, Stams, Tyrol, Austria Length: 3 Minutes 10 Secs.
34.
Lucidor, einst hüt't der Schafby Matthias Weckmann Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: 17th Century; Germany Date of Recording: 11/1992 Venue: Roskilde Cathedral, Roskilde, Denmark Length: 2 Minutes 8 Secs.
35.
Lass mich Dein sein (Ach Herr, mich armen Sünder)by Delphin Strungk Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: 17th Century; Germany Date of Recording: 11/1992 Venue: Roskilde Cathedral, Roskilde, Denmark Length: 2 Minutes 24 Secs.
36.
Variations (2) on "Vater unser im Himmelreich"by Georg Böhm Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: Germany Date of Recording: 11/1992 Venue: Ludgeri Church, Norden, Germany Length: 7 Minutes 15 Secs.
37.
Praeambulum for Organ no 11 in F major, WV 40by Heinrich Scheidemann Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: Germany Date of Recording: 11/1992 Venue: Ludgeri Church, Norden, Germany Length: 1 Minutes 37 Secs.
38.
Prelude for Organ in D minorby Johann Lorentz Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: 17th Century; Denmark Date of Recording: 11/1992 Venue: Roskilde Cathedral, Roskilde, Denmark Length: 2 Minutes 33 Secs.
39.
Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dirby Peter Morhardt Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: 17th Century; Germany Date of Recording: 11/1992 Venue: Roskilde Cathedral, Roskilde, Denmark Length: 3 Minutes 8 Secs.
40.
Gleich wie das Feuerby Melchior Schildt Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: 17th Century; Germany Date of Recording: 11/1992 Venue: Roskilde Cathedral, Roskilde, Denmark Length: 3 Minutes 56 Secs.
41.
Galliarda in D minorby Heinrich Scheidemann Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: 17th Century; Germany Date of Recording: 11/1992 Venue: Roskilde Cathedral, Roskilde, Denmark Length: 4 Minutes 23 Secs.
42.
Allemana d'amorby Anonymous Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Renaissance Written: England Date of Recording: 11/1992 Venue: Roskilde Cathedral, Roskilde, Denmark Length: 3 Minutes 26 Secs.
43.
Variations (3) on "Daphne"by Anonymous Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: circa 1650; Netherlands (Holland Date of Recording: 11/1992 Venue: Roskilde Cathedral, Roskilde, Denmark Length: 4 Minutes 22 Secs.
44.
Variations (3) on "Windecken daer het bosch af drilt"by Anonymous Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Renaissance Written: circa 1610; Netherlands (Holland Date of Recording: 11/1992 Venue: Roskilde Cathedral, Roskilde, Denmark Length: 2 Minutes 38 Secs.
45.
Variations (3) on "Meine Sehl erhebet den Herrn"by Delphin Strungk Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: 17th Century; Germany Date of Recording: 11/1992 Venue: Ludgeri Church, Norden, Germany Length: 9 Minutes 54 Secs.
46.
Fuga for Organ in G minorby Johann Adam Reincken Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Date of Recording: 11/1992 Venue: Ludgeri Church, Norden, Germany Length: 4 Minutes 18 Secs.
47.
Sonatina for Organ in D minorby Christian Ritter Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Date of Recording: 11/1992 Venue: Ludgeri Church, Norden, Germany Length: 4 Minutes 10 Secs.
48.
Canzon for Keyboard no 2 in C minorby Matthias Weckmann Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: Germany Date of Recording: 11/1992 Venue: Ludgeri Church, Norden, Germany Length: 5 Minutes 57 Secs.
49.
Passacaglia for Keyboard in D minorby Johann Kaspar Kerll Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: 17th Century; Germany Venue: Prämonstratenserstift, Schlägl, Austria
50.
Libro quarto di toccate: Ricercare no 2 in G minorby Johann Jacob Froberger Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: by 1656; Germany Venue: Prämonstratenserstift, Schlägl, Austria
51.
Chaconne(s)by Johann Caspar Fischer Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: Salzburg, Austria Venue: Prämonstratenserstift, Schlägl, Austria
52.
Toccata no 4 in D minorby Johann Speth Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: Germany Venue: Prämonstratenserstift, Schlägl, Austria
53.
Wir glauben all' an einen Gottby Johann Pachelbel Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: 1693; Germany Venue: Prämonstratenserstift, Schlägl, Austria
54.
Aria con Variazoni in Fby Johann Pachelbel Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: Germany Venue: Prämonstratenserstift, Schlägl, Austria
55.
Toccata for Organ no 1 in D minorby Gottlieb Muffat Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: 18th Century; Vienna, Austria Venue: Prämonstratenserstift, Schlägl, Austria
56.
Toccata for Organ in G majorby Jakob Hassler Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Renaissance Venue: Klosterneuberg, Austria
57.
Canzona im 4 toniby Christian Erbach Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Renaissance Written: Germany Venue: Klosterneuberg, Austria
58.
Toccata no 1 in D majorby Johann Speth Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: Germany Venue: Klosterneuberg, Austria
59.
Ricercar for Keyboard in D minorby Alessandro Poglietti Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: 17th Century; Austria Venue: Klosterneuberg, Austria
60.
Canzona for Organ no 5by Johann Kaspar Kerll Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: 17th Century; Germany Venue: Klosterneuberg, Austria
61.
Toccata for Organ in C majorby Johann Pachelbel Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: Germany Venue: Klosterneuberg, Austria
Toccata for Organ no 5 in C minorby Gottlieb Muffat Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: 18th Century; Germany Venue: Klosterneuberg, Austria
64.
Premier livre d'orgue: Suite du premier tonby Jacques Boyvin Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: by 1690; France Venue: Notre-Dame de Guibray, Falaise, France
Passacaglia for Organ in D minorby Johann Philipp Krieger Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: Germany Venue: Begijnhofkerk, Leuven, Belgium
67.
Canzona for Organ in E minorby Johann Kaspar Kerll Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: 17th Century; Germany Venue: Begijnhofkerk, Leuven, Belgium
68.
Fuga suavissima for Organby Carl Luython Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Venue: Begijnhofkerk, Leuven, Belgium
Capriccio no 2 in A minorby Johann Jacob Froberger Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: 17th Century; Germany Venue: Begijnhofkerk, Leuven, Belgium
Suite du deuxième ton for Organby Lambert Chaumont Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Venue: Begijnhofkerk, Leuven, Belgium
73.
Fantasia for Organ in D minorby Abraham Van Kerckhoven Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: Flanders, Belgium Venue: Begijnhofkerk, Leuven, Belgium
74.
Fantasia for Organ in F majorby Abraham Van Kerckhoven Performer:
Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque Written: 17th Century; Flanders, Belgium Venue: Begijnhofkerk, Leuven, Belgium
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review: ( 3 Customer Reviews )
Purity of SoundMay 26, 2012By T Price Zimmermann (Huntersville, NC)See All My Reviews"Purity of sound and interpretation characterize this collection of exceptionally beautiful works--most of them little known--performed with period sensitivity and registration that reveals the unearthly beauty of the instruments on which these works are performed. Excellent engineering. One of the best organ recordings I have heard in a long while."Report Abuse
Lesser Known Gems Played by a MasterMay 11, 2012By S. Martorella (E GREENWICH, RI)See All My Reviews"Leonhardt was a master of the art and one of the early proponents of the renewed interest in early music. These recordings present a repertoire rarely heard by composers who had a profound impact on the later Baroque era, planting the seeds that would later sprout in the works of Buxtehude and Bach. These are hymns, folk songs and dances from France, Germany and the Netherlands at the nexus point of the late Renaissance and Early Baroque periods. The music is played on historic instruments, many in original tunings, and all appropriate to the literature that was written for them. The music itself sparkles and dances in the deft hands of Leonhardt, a profound interpreter of music of this period. If you dare to imagine what music Bach might have listened to as he grew into his art; this might be a good place to start."Report Abuse
some really interesting stuff!May 9, 2012By Mark Downey (Joliet, IL)See All My Reviews"Leonhardt is a superb performer and musicologist. This recording is well done and I discovered several new pieces that I want to perform. I recommend this CD for anyone who is interested in early organ performances."Report Abuse