Michael Praetorius

[Contratrombone64]

For some strange reason I've known the name of this composer all my adult life, not sure why as I never played his music on the viola.

This beautiful tome could very well be the labours of someone's PhD, not sure as my German is almost non-existant.

Enjoy - I'm certainly going to play some of them.

This beautiful edition also dispenses with alto clefs (which I don't have a problem reading as I'm a viola player but most organists find VERY tedious).

[Krummhorn]

Love his works ... especially the Ein' feste Burg, which is a standard Reformation Day prelude I do every year in church.

As for the alto clef, I usually pass over those pieces as I never took the time to learn that clef, and it's much too late now.

[Contratrombone64]

Lars - alto clef is easy, just grab a Bach Chorale prelude where he uses one and play it ... middle line equals middle C (as you are well aware), trust me if you just play 4 bars and concentrate you be surprised how quickly you get accustomed to it. I have far more difficulty reading tenor clef as it's too close for comfort. A bit like Bach's use of that soprano clef where the music is a couple of spaces higher than sounds, does me head in.

[Ghekorg7]

Thanks for the pdf David ! I got one from IMSLP and tried some of his works.
One can see Bach's study on Pretorius works and blending his innovations in his own works.
Also I can play his works with more ease in my toaster VPO console - 4 octave keyboards, 20note pedal sticks - and the 1600 Antegniatti organ HW3 set, and get close to Praetorius era.

My question is, witch is me most original tuning/temperament for playing Praetorius works ? (HW3 has a list and user can choose the appropriate)

Can anyone help ?

[wljmrbill]

Here is link to a performance of the piece, that Lars is fond of, on a pedalclavichord. Interesting and enjoy it..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lT7sl_ZMhlc

[Stoda]

Here is link to a performance of the piece, that Lars is fond of, on a pedalclavichord. Interesting and enjoy it..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lT7sl_ZMhlc

Lovely instrument there! Would love one of these.

[Johannes Sørensen]

Ghekorg7 wrote:
“My question is, witch is me most original tuning/temperament for playing Praetorius works ?”


Probably Michael Praetorius had some influence on the Compenius Organ at Frederiksborg Castle, Denmark. http://www.magle.dk/music-forums/116...-400-year.html
Michael Praetorius and Esaias Compenius were friends and both attached to the court of Duke Heinrich Julius of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel.
The temperament of the Compenius Organ is meantone, a1 = 467/68Hz at 20 degrees C.


For those who are interested in music by Michael Praetorius I can suggest the CD “auch auff Orgeln” recorded on the Compenius Organ.
http://www.amazon.de/Orgeln-Eine-Tra.../dp/B002GRAILG

Best regards
Johannes

[Ghekorg7]

Ghekorg7 wrote:
“My question is, witch is me most original tuning/temperament for playing Praetorius works ?”


Probably Michael Praetorius had some influence on the Compenius Organ at Frederiksborg Castle, Denmark. http://www.magle.dk/music-forums/116...-400-year.html
Michael Praetorius and Esaias Compenius were friends and both attached to the court of Duke Heinrich Julius of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel.
The temperament of the Compenius Organ is meantone, a1 = 467/68Hz at 20 degrees C.


For those who are interested in music by Michael Praetorius I can suggest the CD “auch auff Orgeln” recorded on the Compenius Organ.
http://www.amazon.de/Orgeln-Eine-Tra.../dp/B002GRAILG

Best regards
Johannes

Thank you Johannes.

I know Compenius organ and I'v got , among others, the "Von allen Menschen abgewandt" CD from Ramee records (2004), Scherer Organ in Tangermunde, St.Stephanskirche, played by Leon Berben and Britta Schwarz mezzo soprano .

The large & very informative booklet says the organ is tuned in mean tone temperament after M.Praetorius 1619, a'=486Hz, pressure 75mm WS, short octave compass.

The thing is, which meantone? Is there a Praetorius 1619 meantone tuning?

You have a point though, as indeed Praetorius & Compenius were together at the court....

Btw the Scherer 3m/p organ sounds magnificent !
( I have the full disposition if anyone is interested)

Kind regards
Panos

[Johannes Sørensen]

Hello Panos


You ask:
“The thing is, which meantone? Is there a Praetorius 1619 meantone tuning?”


As far as I have found out it is quarter-comma meantone.
The year 1619 refers to the second volume of the work “Syntagma Musicum”, “De organographia”, by Michael Praetorus.
http://www.lib.rochester.edu/index.cfm?page=2470


See also side 15-16 in the book “A Passable and Good Temperament – A New Methodology for Studying Tuning and Temperament in Organ Music” by Johan Norrback.
http://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/2077...77_15641_5.pdf


Best regards
Johannes

[Ghekorg7]

Hey GREAT links !

Thank you Johannes !!

Cheers
Panos

[Udyret]

Thanks a lot for this great link, i'm certainly gonna play some of these pieces, they'll be great for service, and the music of Praetorius is always beautiful.
I don't think it is part of a doctorate, as far as I can read from the foreword it's a "practical edition" by Karl Matthaei of the first complete edition of the complete organ works of Praetorius. The first edition was published in 1921, the same year as the so-called "Praetorius-organ" was inaugurated in Freiburg. The "practical aspect" of the new edition is the addition of slurs and fingering, and an easier to read layout.
But be aware that Matthaei was a pupil of the Leipzig-era; in his eyes everything was to be played legato. But once again thanks for a great and very useful link.

P.s. A doctorate on the organ works of Praetorius has been made by organist Ulf Wellner, Lübeck