Voice Honors of the 17th Century North German Musical School

Former Northern Germany. The central cities of the Hanseatic League, Lübeck, Hamburg, and Bremen, flourished as "Free Hanseatic Cities. In the 17th century, organs were installed one after another in Protestant churches in those cities, organ music flourished, and composers of the "North German Music School" were active. Johann Fallhout's drawing on the front cover, "A Moment of Music in the Inner Circle," depicts three of its leading composers, Dietrich Buxtehude, Johann Adam Reinken, and Johann Tyre, who are believed to be the three musicians. They formed a close friendship and each left the world with works that shaped an era. This performance will feature works by these three composers, as well as vocal and instrumental music from the 17th-century North German musical school.
The organ to be used is a 17th century Italian Baroque-style Positif organ owned by Ken Ishii, an extremely rare instrument faithfully built according to the construction methods of the 17th century, and blown by a human-powered "bellows" rather than an electric motor. It is an ideal organ for Buxtehude and other music of Italian origin, and is very suitable for the program of this performance. We hope you will enjoy its sound.