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Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707) was one of the most influential musicians and composers of his generation. Musicians throughout Europe, including both Bach and Handel, traveled long distances to hear his music and to learn from him. Buxtehude made significant contributions to the spheres of vocal, chamber and instrumental music, yet he is most revered for his immense contribution to the organ repertoire.

Buxtehude is probably the only pre-Bach composer whose music has the consistency, variety and drama to hold the attention of a modern audience throughout a series of ten recital programs. His brilliant and rhapsodic preludia and toccatas are characterized by a spontaneous, extroverted and improvisatory flair, whereas his chorales have an altogether more devotional, prayerful manner. In addition, Buxtehude composed a group of short fugal pieces for manuals only, without pedals, which are exquisite contrapuntal miniatures.

To mark the 300th anniversary of the composer’s death, John Scott will perform Buxtehude’s works in ten recitals. Mr. Scott will perform on the Saint Thomas Taylor & Boody organ, built in 1996 and consisting of twenty-one stops over two manuals and pedals. The instrument is inspired by the tradition of organ building which was active in the Netherlands and North Germany in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. This magnificent organ is the perfect vehicle for Buxtehude’s works in New York City.

Official Website: http://www.saintthomaschurch.org/notes.html#Buxtehude

Added by Josh Carr on February 22, 2007

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