Composer

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Gustav Adolf Merkel

Genre

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Keyboard

Style

:

Keyboard

Average_duration

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10:51

Movement_count

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3

Movement ....

Gustav Adolf Merkel's 'Grosse Choralvorspiele (3) for organ, Op. 32' is a collection of three grand chorale preludes for the organ. The work was composed in 1874 and premiered in the same year. The three movements are based on well-known hymns and are characterized by their virtuosic and expressive writing for the organ. The first movement, 'Nun danket alle Gott' (Now Thank We All Our God), is a majestic prelude in C major. The piece begins with a grand introduction, featuring full organ and a fanfare-like motif. The hymn tune is then presented in the pedals, accompanied by a flowing and ornate figuration in the manuals. The middle section of the movement features a more subdued and introspective treatment of the hymn tune, with a gentle and lyrical melody in the upper register of the organ. The movement concludes with a triumphant restatement of the hymn tune, with the full organ once again sounding forth. The second movement, 'Herzlich tut mich verlangen' (My Heart Is Filled with Longing), is a contemplative and introspective prelude in E minor. The piece begins with a gentle and melancholic introduction, featuring a delicate melody in the upper register of the organ. The hymn tune is then presented in the pedals, accompanied by a simple and understated figuration in the manuals. The middle section of the movement features a more complex and harmonically adventurous treatment of the hymn tune, with a series of modulations and chromatic harmonies. The movement concludes with a quiet and peaceful restatement of the hymn tune, with the gentle melody in the upper register once again sounding forth. The third movement, 'Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme' (Sleepers, Wake!), is a grand and virtuosic prelude in D major. The piece begins with a lively and energetic introduction, featuring a rapid and virtuosic figuration in the manuals. The hymn tune is then presented in the pedals, accompanied by a lively and syncopated accompaniment in the manuals. The middle section of the movement features a more subdued and contemplative treatment of the hymn tune, with a gentle and lyrical melody in the upper register of the organ. The movement concludes with a triumphant restatement of the hymn tune, with the full organ once again sounding forth in a grand and majestic conclusion. Overall, Merkel's 'Grosse Choralvorspiele (3) for organ, Op. 32' is a masterful collection of grand chorale preludes for the organ. The work showcases Merkel's virtuosic and expressive writing for the instrument, as well as his skillful treatment of well-known hymn tunes. The three movements are characterized by their grandeur, introspection, and virtuosity, making them a staple of the organ repertoire.

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