Composer

:

Gustav Adolf Merkel

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Sonata

Average_duration

:

18:24

Movement_count

:

3

Movement ....

Gustav Adolf Merkel's Organ Sonata No. 6 in E minor (Chorale Sonata), Op. 137, is a significant work in the organ repertoire. It was composed in 1890 and premiered in the same year in Leipzig, Germany. The sonata is divided into four movements, each of which is based on a chorale melody. The first movement, marked Allegro moderato, is based on the chorale "Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh' darein" (Oh God, look down from heaven). The movement begins with a solemn introduction, followed by a lively and energetic section that features virtuosic passages for the organist. The chorale melody is presented in various forms throughout the movement, including in the pedal and in a fugue. The second movement, marked Andante con moto, is based on the chorale "O Traurigkeit, o Herzeleid" (Oh sadness, oh heartache). This movement is more introspective and contemplative than the first, with a mournful melody that is presented in the upper register of the organ. The middle section of the movement features a more hopeful and uplifting melody, before returning to the original theme. The third movement, marked Allegro vivace, is based on the chorale "Nun danket alle Gott" (Now thank we all our God). This movement is the most joyful and celebratory of the four, with a lively and energetic melody that is presented in various forms throughout the movement. The middle section features a fugue that is based on the chorale melody, before returning to the original theme. The final movement, marked Allegro moderato, is based on the chorale "Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott" (A mighty fortress is our God). This movement is the most complex and challenging of the four, with a virtuosic fugue that is based on the chorale melody. The movement also features a chorale prelude and a coda that brings the sonata to a triumphant close. Overall, Merkel's Organ Sonata No. 6 in E minor (Chorale Sonata), Op. 137, is a masterful work that showcases the capabilities of the organ and the composer's skill in writing for the instrument. The use of chorale melodies throughout the sonata gives it a cohesive and unified structure, while also highlighting the rich tradition of German hymnody.

More....