Helmut Walcha is one of those figures that one hears of whilst
growing up as an organist. He was one of a select number who
still hold international recognition. Walcha, who was blind
from the age of 19, is better known for his recordings of the
complete organ works of J.S. Bach which he did once in mono
and once in stereo in the 1940s and 1950s. LPs of these recordings
are often available in good charity shops but the stereo recording
has since been released as a 12 CD box-set (Universal Classics).
His compositions are much less well known and include four volumes
of chorale preludes, which became popular teaching pieces. There
are also orchestral transcriptions for the organ. The performer
on this disc, Wolfgang Rubsam, was a student of Walcha and has
had a very busy career as Professor of Organ at Northwestern
University in Illinois and “over a hundred highly acclaimed
recordings”.
One of the first things that a prospective purchaser may notice,
whilst browsing in their local classical CD shop, is the description
of Rubsam’s interpretations as “uniquely authoritative”.
Whilst this is rather a dangerous claim in this culture of “historical
performance practice”, it is true that Rubsam is quite
likely to be familiar with his teacher’s interpretative
style. The chorale prelude is a very expressive compositional
tool which Rubsam is able to convey. The quieter chorales such
as Mit Ernst, O Menschenkinder are expressively managed
and the balance of the organ is spot-on. The louder and more
virtuosic pieces Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott and O
Heiland, reiss die Himmel auf display the instrument’s
full power. The latter of these two deploys the principal chorus
of this versatile instrument and creates an “authentic”
sounding German timbre. Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott
shows the organ’s more Atlantic tendencies with a very
powerful pedal reed dominating the texture. The sound is exciting
but not “authentic”.
Occasionally the rhythmic freedom that the performer uses feels
slightly overdone. This is partly due to very small gaps between
tracks which mean the pieces rather flow into each other as
they wouldn’t in a live performance. However, Rubsam’s
definite and personal articulation, most prominently displayed
in Ist Gott fur mich, so trete, makes this recording
equally about the compositions as about the performer.
Overall, these varied pieces are skilfully crafted and artfully
performed on a versatile and aurally pleasant instrument.
Hannah Parry-Ridout
Track listing
No. 1 Nun Komm, der Heiden Heiland [2:09]
No. 2 O Heiland, reiss die Himmel auf [1:41]
No. 3 Macht hoch die Tur [2:25]
No. 4 Mit Ernst, o Menschenkinder [3:16]
No. 5 Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ [2:09]
No. 6 Den die Hirten lobten sehre [1:39]
No. 7.Froehlich soll mein Herze springen [1:14]
No. 8.Zu Bethlehem geboren [1:34]
No. 9.Weicht ihr Berge, fallt ihr Hugel [1:36]
No. 10. Herzliebster Jesu, was hast du verbrochen [3:14]
No. 11. Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort [3:34]
No. 12. Herr, nun selbst den Wagen halt [1:48]
No. 13. Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein [3:21]
No. 14. Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott [2:41]
No. 15. Ach blein bei uns, Herr Jesu Christ [2:03]
No. 16. Nun freut euch, lieben Christen g'mein [2:17]
No. 17. Es ist das Heil uns kommen her [2:29]
No. 18. Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ [3:59]
No. 19. Ist Gott fur mich, so trete [2:31]
No. 20. Wer nur den lieben Gott lasst walten [3:22]
No. 21. Mitten wir im Leben sind [3:16]
No. 22. Wer weiss, wie nahe mir mein Ende [3:39]
No. 23. Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin [3:35]
No. 24. Nun sich der Tag geendet hat [2:02]
No. 25. Morgenglanz der Ewigkeit [3:19]
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Wolfgang Rubsam (organ) 