Georg BOHM (1661-1733)
"Works for Organ"
Chorale Partitas.
Prelude, Fugue and Postlude in G Minor.
Christiaan Teeuwsen (organ)
Reil Organ - Bovenkerk, Kampen, The Nederlands.
Recorded 25^th - 27^th May 2001.at The Bovenkerk, Kampen, The Nederlands.
NAXOS 8.555857 [78.44].

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Georg Bohm was born in Hohenkirchen near Ohrdruf in Thuringia way back in 1661. His early music training was given to him by his father, who was a local schoolmaster and organist in Ernstroda and, from 1660, in Hohenkirchen. After the death of his father in 1675, Georg continued his education at the Lateinschule in Goldbach until 1678, when he moved to the Gymnasium at Gotha. In 1684 he matriculated at the University at Jena and by 1693 he was to be found in Hamburg, where by 1697, three of his children had been baptised. In 1698, the organist Christian Flor had died, and the position of organist became available at the Johanniskirche in Luneberg. Georg Bohm applied for the vacancy, and was the unanimous choice, maintaining the position until his death in 1733.

In Luneberg, it is said that Bohm met a young 12-year-old musician by the name of Johann Sebastian Bach, who was at school in near-by Ohrdruf, this meeting is said to have taken place between 1700 and 1702. Whether Bohm actually taught JS Bach music is not known; in fact, not much information regarding Georg Bohm`s employment is known. What is quite clear is that the compositions of Georg Bohm had a strong influence on the later compositions of JS Bach. Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Johann Sebastian`s second son, often refered to Bohm as his Father`s teacher.

In Bohm more free-form compositions, there is a distinct influence of Buxtehude and the general North German School of compositional form.

The fairly extensive booklet notes are largely based on the notes by the organist Christiaan Teeuwsen, who just happens to be the organist on this very fine Naxos recording. Booklet details are also given appertaining to the Reil Organ at Bovenkerk that is also used. The photograph on the front cover, is of this fine instrument, which it appears was "created" on the 27^th May 1999; just goes to show that the modern ogan builders are still capable of creating fine instruments.

The pieces included on this disc cover a cross-section of Bohm`s compositional career as an organist and apart from being very well played, are recorded in a beautiful clean, clear acoustic. Given the budget price of this excellent Naxos CD, I can only give it the very highest of recommendations. Buy a copy, sit back and smile.

Scott Montague

 

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