Composer

:

Ferruccio Busoni

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Keyboard

Compose Date

:

1898

Publication Date

:

1898

Average_duration

:

5:22

Ferruccio Busoni's 'Chorale Preludes (10), KiV B27' is a collection of ten pieces for solo piano, composed in 1898. The work was premiered in Berlin in 1902, with Busoni himself as the performer. The ten movements are based on chorale melodies, which are traditional hymns used in Protestant church services. Busoni's compositions are not straightforward arrangements of the chorales, but rather complex and virtuosic variations on the original melodies. The first movement, "Nun freut euch, lieben Christen g'mein," begins with a simple statement of the melody in the bass, which is then elaborated upon with intricate figurations in the right hand. The second movement, "Herzlich tut mich verlangen," is a more introspective piece, with a hauntingly beautiful melody that is gradually transformed through a series of variations. The third movement, "Wie wohl ist mir, o Freund der Seelen," is a lively and joyful piece, with a playful and syncopated rhythm. The fourth movement, "Herr Gott, nun schleuß den Himmel auf," is a dramatic and powerful piece, with thundering chords and cascading arpeggios. The fifth movement, "Durch Adams Fall ist ganz verderbt," is a somber and introspective piece, with a mournful melody that is gradually transformed through a series of variations. The sixth movement, "Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ," is a tender and prayerful piece, with a simple and beautiful melody that is gradually elaborated upon with intricate figurations. The seventh movement, "Es ist das Heil uns kommen her," is a lively and joyful piece, with a playful and syncopated rhythm. The eighth movement, "Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland," is a majestic and grandiose piece, with a soaring melody and powerful chords. The ninth movement, "In dulci jubilo," is a joyful and exuberant piece, with a lively and syncopated rhythm. The final movement, "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern," is a triumphant and celebratory piece, with a majestic and grandiose melody that is gradually transformed through a series of variations. Overall, Busoni's 'Chorale Preludes (10), KiV B27' is a virtuosic and complex work that showcases the composer's mastery of the piano and his ability to transform traditional melodies into intricate and elaborate compositions.

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