Composer

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Melchior Schildt

Genre

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Keyboard

Style

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Keyboard

Average_duration

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4:49

Melchior Schildt was a German composer and organist who lived during the early Baroque period. He was born in Hanover in 1592 and died in Wolfenbüttel in 1667. Schildt was a student of Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck, the famous Dutch composer and organist, and he later became the court organist in Wolfenbüttel. One of Schildt's most famous works is his organ chorale prelude "Gleichwie das Feuer", which was composed in the early 17th century. The piece is based on a hymn by Martin Luther, and it is written in the style of a chorale prelude, which was a common form of organ music during the Baroque period. The premiere of "Gleichwie das Feuer" is not known, but it was likely performed in a church or at a court ceremony. The piece is divided into four movements, each of which is based on a different verse of Luther's hymn. The first movement is a gentle and introspective setting of the first verse of the hymn. The second movement is more lively and features a series of virtuosic runs and flourishes on the organ. The third movement is a slower and more contemplative setting of the third verse of the hymn, and it features a beautiful melody played on the organ's solo stop. The final movement is a triumphant and joyful setting of the fourth verse of the hymn, and it features a series of powerful chords and fanfares on the organ. Overall, "Gleichwie das Feuer" is a beautiful and expressive piece of organ music that showcases Schildt's skill as a composer and organist. The piece is notable for its use of contrasting textures and moods, as well as its virtuosic passages and powerful harmonies. It remains a popular piece in the organ repertoire to this day.

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