This re-release presents toccatas written in the ‘stylus phantasticus’ alongside variations on songs. These works by Bruhns, Buxtehude, Bach, Böhm and Sweelinck, covering one and a half centuries, offer a fascinating insight into the North German baroque organ tradition.
The carefully chosen instrument (built in 1991 by Riegner & Friedrich in Riegel/Kaiserstuhl), though not a copy, is modelled on historic North German organs. High-quality workmanship as well as the artistic talent of the voicer makes for an instrument whose fresh and always transparent sound is immediately appealing: “The full organ sound is bright and balanced, and the basic stops possess a vocal quality characterised by that gentle energy which is indispensable for an organ epitomising a musical instrument in the true sense of the word.” (Musica sacra)
Gerhard Gnann was awarded many prizes at international competitions, including the Bach Competition Brügge (Bruges), the Swiss Organ competition and the Grand Prix “Dom zu Speyer” (“Speyer Cathedral”). In 1997 Gerhard Gnann was appointed professor for artistic organ playing at the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. As an artist and teacher Gerhard Gnann is in high demand nationally and internationally, giving concerts and master classes e.g. in Italy, Poland, Norway, Denmark, France and Austria.
