Johann Crüger, born in 1598 in Guben/Lausitz, died in 1662 in Berlin. With his groundbreaking innovations he substantially transformed and enriched the history of ecclesiastical music in the entire Protestant world. The crowning achievement of his work was the publishing of his stunning chorales in three volumes in 1649, 1657 and 1658. They contain one of Crüger’s “inventions”, the famous “CrügerConcertChorales”, with their brilliant combination of four-part choral hymns with the concerto principle – namely, two high virtuoso instrumental parts. These chorales are the main theme of the premiere performance in the “original scoring” on this CD. That means that the interpretation and presentation of those musical sound possibilities is what was available to and used by Crüger: boy sopranos and men’s voices (sometimes falsetto), with cornetts (zinks), violins, trombones, harpsichord, regal and positive organ. Of the five thematic circles, four (Morning/Evening songs, Easter, Pentecost and Gloria/Psalms) have three chorales each, with the Christmas section having more (since everyone loves to sing then). This forms the basic framework for this CD, taken from the 1649 and 1657 collections. Nothing is more suitable than organ music to join together these elements in an artistic way: three works by Wilhelm Karges (a Crüger contemporary and organist at Berlin Cathedral) and one by an anonymous composer taken from the same source. They are performed at the precious Herbst-Gercke organ from 1683 in Basedow/Mecklenburg.

Tracklisting:
Johann Crüger
1. I Morning and Evening Songs: Wach auf mein Herz und singe
2. I Morning and Evening Songs: Aus meines Herzens Grunde
3. I Morning and Evening Songs: Die Sonn hat sich mit ihrem Glanz gewendet
Wilhelm Karges
4. Capriccio in G
Johann Crüger
5. II Christmas: Jauchzt Gott mit Herzensfreud
6. II Christmas: Gelobet seist du Jesu Christ
7. II Christmas: Fröhlich soll mein Herze springen
8. II Christmas: Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her
9. II Christmas: Heut sind die lieben Engelein
Wilhelm Karges
10 Fantasia in D minor
Johann Crüger
11. III Easter: Auf auf mein Herz mit Freuden
12. III Easter: Erschienen ist der herrlich Tag
13. III Easter: Erstanden ist der heilig Christ
Anonymous
14 Fantasia in D minor
Johann Crüger
15. IV Whitsun: Komm Heiliger Geist Herre Gott
16. IV Whitsun: Nun bitten wir den Heiligen Geist
17. IV Whitsun: Gott der Vater wohn uns bei
Wilhelm Karges
18 Praeludium quarti toni
Johann Crüger
19. V Psalms & Gloria: Ach Gott vom Himmel sieh darein
20. V Psalms & Gloria: Erbarm dich mein o Herre Gott
21. V Psalms & Gloria: Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr