The Organ in the Renaissance & Baroque / Leonhardt

Notes and Editorial Reviews

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 Gospel Read 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

-----

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."

-- P. R., Gramophone
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Works on This Recording

A Pavan by 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.

Orgel oder Instrument Tabulatur: Wer das Töchterlein haben by 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.

Pavan and Galliard by Taylor,
Performer: Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Renaissance
Date of Recording: 10/06/1970
Venue: Churburg Castle, Val Venosta, Italy
Length: 2 Minutes 38 Secs.

Eterne rerum by 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.

Pavane and Galliard by 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.

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.

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.

Toccata and Fugue for Organ in B flat major by 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.

Alle Menschen müssen sterben by 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.

11.

Magnificat Fugues (95) for Organ: Fugue quinti toni no 5 in F major by 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 39 Secs.

12.

Un cromatico ovvero Capricio by 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 7 by 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 4 by 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 Toni by 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 4 by 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 13 by 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 major by 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.

19.

Selva di varie composizioni d'intavolatura per cimbalo ed organo: Ballo della battaglia in D major by Bernardo Storace
Performer: Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque
Written: by 1664; Italy
Date of Recording: 04/06/1971
Venue: Premonstratensian Abbey, Innsbruck
Length: 2 Minutes 22 Secs.

20.

Canzona in G minor by 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 minor by 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 minor by 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 minor by 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 quinta by 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 minor by 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 minor by 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 major by 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 major by 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 major by 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 Freude by 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 Zuversicht by 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 lassen by 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 minor by 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 Schaf by 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 40 by 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 minor by 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 dir by Peter Morhardt
Performer: Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque
Written: 17th Century
Date of Recording: 11/1992
Venue: Roskilde Cathedral, Roskilde, Denmark
Length: 3 Minutes 8 Secs.

40.

Gleich wie das Feuer by 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 minor by 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'amor by 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 minor by 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 minor by 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 minor by 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 minor by 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 minor by 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 minor by Johann Speth
Performer: Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque
Written: Germany
Venue: Prämonstratenserstift, Schlägl, Austria

53.

Wir glauben all' an einen Gott by Johann Pachelbel
Performer: Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque
Written: 1693; Germany
Venue: Prämonstratenserstift, Schlägl, Austria

54.

Aria con Variazoni in F by Johann Pachelbel
Performer: Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque
Written: Germany
Venue: Prämonstratenserstift, Schlägl, Austria

55.

Toccata for Organ no 1 in D minor by Gottlieb Muffat
Performer: Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque
Written: 18th Century; Vienna, Austria
Venue: Prämonstratenserstift, Schlägl, Austria

56.

Toccata for Organ in G major by Jakob Hassler
Performer: Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Renaissance
Venue: Klosterneuberg, Austria

57.

Canzona im 4 toni by Christian Erbach
Performer: Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Renaissance
Written: Germany
Venue: Klosterneuberg, Austria

58.

Toccata no 1 in D major by Johann Speth
Performer: Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque
Written: Germany
Venue: Klosterneuberg, Austria

59.

Ricercar for Keyboard in D minor by Alessandro Poglietti
Performer: Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque
Written: 17th Century; Austria
Venue: Klosterneuberg, Austria

60.

Canzona for Organ no 5 by Johann Kaspar Kerll
Performer: Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque
Written: 17th Century; Germany
Venue: Klosterneuberg, Austria

61.

Toccata for Organ in C major by Johann Pachelbel
Performer: Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque
Written: Germany
Venue: Klosterneuberg, Austria

62.

Hexachordum Apollinis: no 6, Aria Sebaldina for Organ in F minor by Johann Pachelbel
Performer: Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque
Written: 1699; Germany
Venue: Klosterneuberg, Austria

63.

Toccata for Organ no 5 in C minor by Gottlieb Muffat
Performer: Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque
Written: 18th Century; Germany
Venue: Klosterneuberg, Austria

64.

Premier livre d'orgue: Suite du premier ton by Jacques Boyvin
Performer: Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque
Written: by 1690; France
Venue: Notre-Dame de Guibray, Falaise, France

65.

Pièces d'orgue pour le Magnificat sur les huit tons differens de l'Eglise: Suite du deuxième ton by Jean Adam Guilain
Performer: Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque
Written: by 1706; France
Venue: Notre-Dame de Guibray, Falaise, France

66.

Passacaglia for Organ in D minor by Johann Philipp Krieger
Performer: Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque
Written: Germany
Venue: Begijnhofkerk, Leuven, Belgium

67.

Canzona for Organ in E minor by Johann Kaspar Kerll
Performer: Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque
Written: 17th Century; Germany
Venue: Begijnhofkerk, Leuven, Belgium

68.

Fuga suavissima for Organ by Carl Luython
Performer: Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque
Venue: Begijnhofkerk, Leuven, Belgium

69.

Libro secondo di toccate: Toccata no 5 in D minor "Da sonarsi alla Levatione" by Johann Jacob Froberger
Performer: Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque
Written: by 1649; Germany
Venue: Begijnhofkerk, Leuven, Belgium

70.

Capriccio no 2 in A minor by Johann Jacob Froberger
Performer: Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque
Written: 17th Century; Germany
Venue: Begijnhofkerk, Leuven, Belgium

71.

Libro secondo di toccate: Canzona no 6 in A minor, FbWV 306 by Johann Jacob Froberger
Performer: Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque
Written: by 1649; Germany
Venue: Begijnhofkerk, Leuven, Belgium

72.

Suite du deuxième ton for Organ by Lambert Chaumont
Performer: Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque
Venue: Begijnhofkerk, Leuven, Belgium

73.

Fantasia for Organ in D minor by Abraham Van Kerckhoven
Performer: Gustav Leonhardt (Organ)
Period: Baroque
Written: Flanders, Belgium
Venue: Begijnhofkerk, Leuven, Belgium

74.

Fantasia for Organ in F major by 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 Sound May 26, 2012 By 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 Master May 11, 2012 By S. Martorella (East 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, 2012 By 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

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