by HELEN HOGAN
Relayed from ALL SAINTS',
MARGARET STREET
ANDRE RAISON was one of the great French organ-masters of the late seventeenth century, occupying the post of organist at St. Geneviève in Paris, and later of the Jacobin Church. He published two books of organ compositions, the first in 1687 and the second in 1714. DIETRICH BUXTEHUDE was horn in Sweden in 1637, but spent most of his life in Germany. Apart from being as fine an organist as any performer in his day and a composer whose works are still played, he has other claims to fame. At the age of 31 he obtained the post of organist at Lübeck, then con- sidered one of the most important, as it was one of the most lucrative, in Germany. Here he soon attracted attention as a brilliant organist and musician, and his fame spread through Germany. Läbeck became a great musical centre for northern Europe, and young disciples flocked to the city to sit at the feet of the great teacher, Buxtehude.
Among others, a young man of twenty made a pilgrimage on foot from Arnstadt to Liibeck-a distance of 200 miles-to take lessons from the aged master, now within two years of his death. This young man, John Sebastian Bach by name, stayed in Liibeek for about three months, learned that from the old organist which influenced him throughout life, and, incidentally, was practically offered the reversion of Buxtehude's post as organist of the Maiien-Kirohe, together with the hand of Buxtehude's daughter. Fortunately, Bach resisted the temptation, which was great, but not so great as that, for Fraulein Buxtehude could have been no chicken. As it was, he got into severe trouble when he got back to Arnstadt for overstaying his leave...