Composer

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Nicolaus Bruhns

Genre

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Keyboard

Style

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Keyboard

Average_duration

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9:04

Nicolaus Bruhns was a German Baroque composer and organist who lived from 1665 to 1697. He was born in Schwabstedt, Schleswig-Holstein, and was the son of a Lutheran pastor. Bruhns was a student of the famous Danish-German composer and organist Dieterich Buxtehude, who was a major influence on his music. One of Bruhns' most famous works is his "Praeludium in E flat 'Great'," which was composed for the organ. The piece is believed to have been written around 1690, during Bruhns' time as the organist at the St. Mary's Church in Lübeck, Germany. The "Great" in the title refers to the use of the full organ, which was a common feature of Baroque organ music. The "Praeludium in E flat 'Great'" is a multi-movement work that consists of several sections. The first section is a slow and stately introduction that sets the tone for the rest of the piece. This is followed by a fast and lively section that features intricate counterpoint and virtuosic organ playing. The third section is a slower and more contemplative section that features a beautiful melody played on the organ's solo stops. The final section is a fast and energetic fugue that brings the piece to a thrilling conclusion. One of the characteristics of Bruhns' music is his use of chromaticism, which is the use of notes outside of the diatonic scale. This gives his music a rich and complex harmonic language that was ahead of its time. Another characteristic of his music is his use of counterpoint, which is the art of combining multiple melodies to create a complex and harmonically rich texture. Overall, the "Praeludium in E flat 'Great'" is a stunning example of Baroque organ music. Its intricate counterpoint, virtuosic organ playing, and rich harmonic language make it a masterpiece of the genre.

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