From The Concert Hall, Broadcasting
House
0. H. PEASGOOD
Passacaglia in D minor
Buxtehude (1637-1707)
Passacaglia in C minor Bach (1685-1750) Sonata in E minor
Rheinberger (1839-1901)
1. Adagio; 2. Moderato; 3. Intermezzo ; 4. Scherzoso ; 5. Passacaglia
Introduction and Passacaglia in D minor
Reger (1873-1916)
This recital features an old dance form called a passacaglia, which in all probability was the forerunner of variation form. ' But says the article in Grove's Dictionary, ' the feature which is common with the chaconne and has elevated the passacaglia above the majority of dance forms, is the construction of the music on a Ground Bass generally consisting of a short theme of two, four or eight bars '.
This form attracted the attention of all composers from the seventeenth century onwards.
Dietrich Buxtehude was considered the greatest orgnaist of his day.
The passacaglia by J. S. Bach , considered to be the finest ever written, finishes with a Fugue on the theme.
The Sonata in E minor by Josef Gabriel Rheinberger contains a passacaglia for the last movement somewhat similar to the Bach passacaglia with a more modern treatment of the form.
Max Reger first came before the public as a performer. His compositions were not well received at first. His harmonies are unusual and many of his organ works extremely complicated and difficult, but his work is now appreciated at its true worth.