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 27th 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
Christiaan Teeuwsen (organ)