Edinburgh Festival: Classical - Buxtehude Organ Cycle

Your support helps us to tell the story

Support Now

Find out moreClose

My recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona has shown me how crucial independent journalism is in giving voice to underrepresented communities.

Your support is what allows us to tell these stories, bringing attention to the issues that are often overlooked. Without your contributions, these voices might not be heard.

Every dollar you give helps us continue to shine a light on these critical issues in the run up to the election and beyond

Eric Garcia

Washington Bureau Chief

"Who is Buxtehude?" cried the flyers. A good question. His name is vaguely familiar, particularly as the organist that the young JS Bach walked 200 miles to hear - his music, less so. Which is why this cycle of his complete works for organ is so welcome. If some of his music sounds like half-digested Bach, that is only a tribute to the enormous influence he had on the younger composer; possibly without Deitrich Buxtehude we might never have had Bach as we know him.

And if some of the pieces are inconsequential - well, we can't all be geniuses all the time, can we? But pieces like the great stomping Praeludium in G minor, or the splendidly florid Chorale Fantasia "Ich ruf zu dir", and the numerous delightfully inventive chorale preludes, confirm that this is a composer well worth listening to in his own right.

The accomplished organist Andrew Armstrong showed occasional signs of technical indigestion at the massive task of learning involved, but in general he proved to be a most persuasive champion of this neglected master of the Northern Baroque.