Nationality:
Danish
Born:
Oldesloe,
1637
Died:
Lubeck,
Germany, May 9th
1707
Type
of music: Organ music,
cantatas
Main
works: 120
sacred cantatas
Buxtehude
was a direct contemporary of Pachelbel, and was also a virtuoso
organist. He certainly influenced J.S. Bach as Pachelbel did, and
it's said that in the winter of 1705-06, Bach in fact walked from
Thuringia to Lubeck just to hear Buxtehude performing.
In
1668 he attained the position of organist at St Mary's church in
Lubeck, Germany, a competitive post that was also very lucrative for
him. He subsequently spent the rest of his days in Lubeck.
Buxtehude's
duties for the church would include composing music for the main
services, but he also resurrected an old tradition of giving
concerts on the 5 Sundays before Christmas. These performances became
as famous as his playing.
His
musical output includes cantatas, several oratorios, organ works
including preludes, fantasias, fugues and variations based on chorale
themes, chamber and keyboard music.
"I
should place an organist who is mater of his instrument at the very
head of all virtuosi”. - Beethoven
Spotify
link for the Classical Cafe playlist:
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