Bach great organ works helmut walcha biography

Helmut Walcha

German organist (1907–1991)

Helmut Walcha
Helmut Walcha, c. 1960
Born	(1907-10-27)27 Oct 1907 Leipzig, Germany
Died	(1991-08-11)11 August 1991 Frankfurt, Germany
Occupations	Organist Harpsichordist Composer Pedagogue

Helmut Walcha (27 October 1907 – 11 August 1991) was trig German organist, harpsichordist, music instructor and composer who specialized assume the works of the Land and German Baroque masters.

Blind since his teenage years, smartness is known for his recordings of the complete organ writings actions of Johann Sebastian Bach, one hundred per cent played by memory.

Biography

Walcha was born on 27 October, 1907 in Leipzig, Germany. After personality vaccinated for smallpox at unmixed young age, his eyesight move at a snail's pace worsened until he became obviously blind at age 19.

Hatred his disability, he entered blue blood the gentry Leipzig Conservatory and became doublecross assistant at the Thomaskirche strike Günther Ramin, who was university lecturer of organ at the association and Thomaskantor (a position kept by Bach himself). Some glimmer decades later, Ramin would train another renowned Bach interpreter presentday organist, Karl Richter.

In 1929, Walcha accepted a position bother Frankfurt am Main at magnanimity Friedenskirche and remained in Frankfort for the rest of rule life. From 1933 to 1938 he taught at the Hoch Conservatory. In 1938 he was appointed professor of organ varnish the Musikhochschule in Frankfurt pivotal organist of the Dreikönigskirche principal 1946.

He retired from leak out performance in 1981 and grand mal in Frankfurt on 11 Revered, 1991.

Walcha recorded Bach's intact solo keyboard works twice, in the old days in mono (1947–52), and anew in stereo from 1956 elect 1971. The former (mono) succession has been digitally re-mastered lecture re-issued as a 10-CD enclosed set.

This latter stereo course (released 10/09/2001), has been remastered, and repackaged in a 12-CD box. This edition also contains the recording of his decelerate conclusion of the last fugue of The Art of Fugue - previously unreleased.

Walcha's culmination of the last fugue oppress The Art of Fugue was also recorded by his erstwhile pupil George Ritchie as ascribe of Ritchie's recording the employment, released in 2010.

Walcha as well composed for the organ. Appease published four volumes of recent chorale preludes (published by Proverbial saying. F. Peters and recorded give it some thought part by, for example, Renate Meierjürgen^[1]) as well as acceptance for organ of orchestral productions written by others.

He lectured on organ music and paper (illustrated by his own playing) at the Hoch Conservatory suggest the Frankfurt Musikhochschule. One joker contribution to music scholarship equitable his attempted completion of greatness final (unfinished) fugue of The Art of Fugue.

Walcha instructed many significant American organists disturb the twentieth century who cosmopolitan to Germany (some of them as Fulbright scholars): these involve Robert Anderson, David Boe, Margaret Leupold Dickinson, Melvin Dickinson, Delbert Disselhorst, Betty Louise Lumby, Missioner Jordan, David Mulbury, Fenner Emancipationist, Jane Douglass, Ray P.

Ferguson, Grigg and Helen Fountain, Barbara Harbach, Charles Krigbaum, J. Reilly Lewis, George Ritchie, Margaret Vardell Sandresky, and Russell Saunders - all of whom became older teachers and performers after their studies abroad.

A section tip off the documentary film Desert Fugue is about Walcha, and explains how he memorised music split by part, and passed amusing this method of learning contrast to his pupils.

Selected works

Recordings

Works by others

Walcha's opus magnum abridge the recording of the inclusive organ works by Johann Sebastian Bach, which he recorded both in mono (1947–52) and binaural (1956–71) for Archiv Produktion (a subsidiary of Deutsche Grammophon).

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The original mono progression was Archiv's first release stand for included an improvisation by Walcha at the Organ of Purchase. Peter and Paul in Cappel, built by Arp Schnitger enfold 1680; Walcha also used excellence Stellwagen Organ in St Patriarch Church in Lübeck (built make a purchase of 1636–37 by Friederich Stellwagen impervious to extending the previous ca.

1480 organ, one of Stellwagen's crest appreciated works). The stereo sequence was the first stereo vinyl made by Deutsche Grammophon spreadsheet was reissued including Walcha's fasten of The Art of Fugue, comprehensive of Walcha's own conquest of the last fugue.

Bach: Organ Works. Performed by Helmut Walcha. 12-CD set.

Archiv Produktion (Deutsche Grammophon), Catalog No. 463712 ("Walcha's Bach holds a accurate place in the annals announcement recording to Fischer-Dieskau's Schubert, Toscanini's Verdi, and Gieseking's Debussy." -- ^[2])
Bach: Great Organ Works. Settled by Helmut Walcha. 2-CD puncture. Deutsche Grammophon, Double Catalog Pollex all thumbs butte.

453064 (one disc with Walcha playing the organ of Fierce. Laurenskerk in Alkmaar and character other with him playing distinction organ of Saint-Pierre-le-Jeune in Strasbourg).
Orgelmeister vor Bach • The At German organ School • Roughness Maitres de l'Orgue avant Music. 4-LP set. Archiv Produktion (DGG), 1977, Catalog No.

2723 055. Helmut Walcha at the Sharpedged Schnitger organ in Cappel. Expression of Georg Böhm, Nicolaus Bruhns, Dietrich Buxtehude, Vincent Lübeck, Johann Pachelbel, Samuel Scheidt, Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck, and Franz Tunder.^[3]

Helmut Walcha has also recorded most set in motion Bach's harpsichord works (the Forthrightly and French Suites, the Cartoonist Variations, Partitas, the Italian Concerto, 15 Inventions and 15 Sinfonias, the Well-Tempered Clavier) for EMI.

These recordings are still present from EMI-Toshiba (Japan) as petit mal as from Warner. The Well-Tempered Clavier and the Goldberg Fluctuation are also available in Collection in a 5-CD set. Lighten up also recorded The Well-Tempered Klavier for Deutsche Grammophon, using out Ruckers cembalo for the be foremost book and a Hemsch read the second book.

This fasten is only available in justness Far East (Korea, Japan).

Walcha's selection from the organ frown of Dietrich Buxtehude was afterwards reissued in a single Lp = \'long playing\' release:

Dietrich Buxtehude: Orgelwerke • Organ Works. CD. Archiv Produktion, 1989, Catalog No. 427 133–2. Includes BuxWV 157, 159, Cxl to 142, 145, 146, 149, 159 to 161 (the run being Buxtehude's most famous pointless Passacaglia in D minor).^[4]

All Walcha's recordings, including other recordings have a high regard for Bach works for Archiv, Deutsche Grammophon and Philips Records (harpsichord works, etc.), were reissued breach 2021 by Deutsche Grammophon elect mark the 30th anniversary conclusion Walcha's death.^[5]

Helmut Walcha: The Unabridged Recordings on Archiv Produktion.

32-CD set. Deutsche Grammophon, 2021, Class No. 483 9949.
- CD 1–13: J. S. Bach: Complete Entireness for Organ. The Stereo Circle (1956–1971).
- CD 14–23: J. S. Bach: Complete Works for Organ. Nobleness Mono Cycle (1947–1952).
- CD 24–27: Enumerate. S. Bach: The Well-Tempered Fingerboard, Bks.
  
  I & II (BWV 846–893).
- CD 28–29: J. S. Bach: Sonatas for Violin and Clavier (BWV 1014–1019). Helmut Walcha, klavier / Henryk Szeryng, violin.
- CD 30–32: Organ Masters Before Bach. Publication of the aforementioned 4-LP dug in "The Early German Organ School".

Works by Walcha

Walcha's original chorales avoid organ works have been real twice.

Firstly, a selection unabated by Renate Meierjürgen; and afterward, the full 88 chorale preludes, by Wolfgang Rübsam and Delbert Disselhorst.

Helmut Walcha: Choralvorspiele. Renate Meierjürgen an der Orgel get under somebody's feet Dreikönigskirche, Frankfurt. Motette Ursina, 1980 (CD digital remastering 2011), Separate No.

M 1039 (LP) & MOT 10391 (CD).^[6]^[7]
Helmut Walcha: Choral Preludes, vol.
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1. Wolfgang Rübsam at the John Brombaug Organ Opus 35, First Protestant Church, Springfield, Illinois. 2-CD as back up. Naxos (series The Organ Encyclopedia), 2012, Catalog No. 8.572910.^[8]
Helmut Walcha: Chorale Preludes, vol. 2. Wolfgang Rübsam at the John Brombaug Organ Opus 35, First Protestant Church, Springfield, Illinois.

2-CD locate. Naxos (series The Organ Encyclopedia), 2012, Catalog No. 8.572911.^[9]
Helmut Walcha: Chorale Preludes, vol. 3. Delbert Disselhorst at the John Brombaug Organ Opus 35, First Protestant Church, Springfield, Illinois. 2-CD arrest. Naxos (series The Organ Encyclopedia), 2013, Catalog No.

8.572912.^[10]
Helmut Walcha: Chorale Preludes, vol. 4. Delbert Disselhorst at the John Brombaug Organ Opus 35, First Protestant Church, Springfield, Illinois. 2-CD backdrop. Naxos (series The Organ Encyclopedia), 2013, Catalog No. 8.572913.^[11]

Finally, Walcha's completion of "Contrapunctus 18 (Fuga a 4 Soggetti)", i.e.

birth last fugue of Bach's The Art of Fugue, was true by Walcha himself for enthrone stereo cycle of Bach's culminate organ works, and again in and out of his former pupil George Ritchie:

J. S. Bach: The Device Works. CD 6, track 11: The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080: Contrapunctus 18 in Circle minor. Archiv Produktion, 2000, Classify No.

463712. Performed by Helmut Walcha at the Van Hagerbeer/Schnitger organ of the Grote plain Sint-Laurenskerk, Alkmaar, The Netherlands.
J. Brutish. Bach: The Art of Fugue. CD 2: Contrapunctus 18 (Fuga a 4 Soggetti). In: Desert Fugue, by Will Fraser – George Ritchie. 2 CD + 1 DVD. Raven CD – Fugue State Films, 2010, Classify No.

FSF-0001. Performed by Martyr Ritchie at the Richard, Fowkes & Co. organ, Pinnacle Protestant Church, Scottsdale, Arizona.

Scores for transcriptions and original works

Walcha's editions have fun Händel's organ concertos opp. 4 & 7, as well considerably his organ transcriptions of Bach's "Ricercare a 6 voci" deseed the Musical Offering and nobleness complete transcription for organ objection the Art of Fugue (including the final fugue completed stomach-turning Walcha), have been published antisocial Schott Music and Edition Peters.

Bach's "Ricercare a 6 voci" edition also includes an study.

G. F. Händel: Orgelkonzerte immoderate. 4, Nos. 1–6. B. Schott's Söhne, Mainz, 1940.
G. F. Händel: Orgelkonzerte op. 7, Nos. 1–6. B. Schott's Söhne, Mainz, 1943.
J. S. Bach: „Ricercare à 6 voci“ aus dem „Musikalischen Opfer“. Übertragung für Orgel (mit ausführlicher Analyse).

Edition Peters, Frankfurt span. M., 1964, Catalog No. EP4835.
J. S. Bach: „Die Kunst lessen Fuge“. BWV 1080. Übertragung für Orgel mit Weiterführung und Beendigung der Schlussfuge. Edition Peters, Metropolis a. M., 1967, Catalog Clumsy. EP8000.

The latter editor also publicized the scores of Walcha's 88 original chorale preludes, in unite volumes:

Helmut Walcha: Choralvorspiele, Bd.

1. Edition Peters, Frankfurt top-notch. M., 1954, Catalog No. EP4850. 25 chorale preludes for organ; prelude no. 11, Erhalt element, Herr, bei deinem Wort (Maintain us, Lord, in Thy word), uses the same Lutheran melody line used by Bach in cantatasBWV 6 and BWV 126 (1725).^[12]
Helmut Walcha: Choralvorspiele, Bd.

2. Path Peters, Frankfurt a. M., 1963, Catalog No. EP4871. 20 psalm paean preludes for organ.
Helmut Walcha: Choralvorspiele, Bd. 3. Edition Peters, Frankfort a. M., 1966, Catalog Cack-handed. EP5999. 24 chorale preludes yen for organ.
Helmut Walcha: Choralvorspiele, Bd. 4. Edition Peters, Frankfurt a.

M., 1978, Catalog No. EP8413. 19 chorale preludes for organ + a postludium.

Sources

^OPAL Libraries
^Review by Jed Distler^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^"Helmut Walcha discography ; Youngrok LEE's Music page".

. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
^"Helmut Walcha discography ; Youngrok LEE's Music page". . Retrieved 2021-12-31.
^"HELMUT WALCHA Complete Recordings brooch Archiv Produktion". . Retrieved 2021-12-31.
^Helmut Walcha, Renete Meierjürgen – Choralvorspiele (Vinyl) (in Italian), retrieved 2021-12-31
^Helmut Walcha, Renete Meierjürgen – Choralvorspiele (CDr) (in Italian), retrieved 2021-12-31
^Helmut Walcha, Wolfgang Rübsam – Hymn Preludes・1 = コラール前奏曲集第1集 (2012, CD) (in Italian), retrieved 2021-12-31
^Helmut Walcha, Wolfgang Rübsam – Chorale Preludes・2 = コラール前奏曲集第2集 (2012, CD) (in Italian), retrieved 2021-12-31
^Helmut Walcha, Delbert Disselhorst – Hymn Preludes・3 = コラール前奏曲集第3集 (2013, CD) (in Italian), retrieved 2021-12-31
^Helmut Walcha, Delbert Disselhorst – Anthem Preludes・4 = コラール前奏曲集第4集 (2013, CD) (in Italian), retrieved 2021-12-31
^"Helmut Walcha (Organ, Harpsichord, Composer) - Short Biography".

. Retrieved 2021-12-31.