| Label: Rondeau Productions Catalog: ROP6046 Format: CD Ulfert Smidt plays the three organs at the Marktkirche HanoverJohann Sebastian Bach Toccata und Fuge F-Dur BWV 540 - Fantasia C-Dur BWV 570 - Drei Leipziger Choräle: Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele BWV 654, Von Gott will ich nicht lassen BWV 658, Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend BWV 655 - Drei Choräle aus der Neumeister-Sammlung: Nun lasset uns den Leib begraben BWV 1111, O Lamm Gottes unschuldig BWV 1095, Herzliebster Jesu, was hast du verbrochen BWV 1093 - Pièce d'Orgue G-Dur BWV 572 - Sonate e-Moll BWV 528 - Präludium Präludium C-Dur BWV 943 (from: Aus den Fünf kleinen Präludien) The idea for the present recording arose from the performance of Bach's complete works for organ by Ulfert Smidt at the Marktkirche Hanover. Through this comprehensive overview the listener gains new insight into the master's oeuvre and encounters the man behind the music - a person who composed for and performed at the organ throughout his entire lifetime. Some stylistic features and musical idiosyncrasies persist from his early works through to his late compositions, others disappear, new characteristics are integrated on the way. What then, are the 'typical Bachian elements' which are so often claimed to be inherent in his music? The Marktkirche's three organs with their individual characters enable us to comprehend Bach's diverse and multi-faceted oeuvre, and to encounter the composer Johann Sebastian Bach anew. Ulfert Smidt has held the post as organist at the Marktkirche Hannover since 1996, where he promoted the church's international organ concerts as their musical director. Furthermore, he is a tutor for organ (both for the performance of literature and improvisation) at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hannover. Concert tours have seen him perform around the world, for example in the USA, Russia, France and Italy. There are numerous CD productions with Smidt, including transcriptions for organ of César Franck's piano works, North-German organ music from three centuries, as well as performances of works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy and Jean Langlais. |