One feature that is often admired in Jörg Herchet’s organ works is his transparent combination of voices – simultaneously with a high intensity in the unfolding of the form. This impression is a virtue of Herchet’s polyphonal manner of compositions, whose uniqueness can be documented in detail. For example, we find proof for that in the two pieces from Composition 1 for organ forming CD 1. Here we also find verbal elements linked to the pieces which is rare in Herchet’s instrumental works. Each of the eight pieces is connected with one of the Beatitudes from the New Testament: Piece V blesses the merciful, Piece VI the peacemakers.

One can read the cycle of Namen Gottes (which is the extra title of the Composition 3 for organ) as a compendium of sensory time exploration: Herchet assigns a spectrum of possible time forms to the 43 (largely already extant, in some cases still planned) compositions – 6 booklets of 7 pieces each along with a central booklet (no.4) with just one especially extensive work. The human time familiar to us  (‘rational/subjective time’) with its concept of development which is based on the concepts of past, present and future, is thus rendered relative and supplemented with the directionless ‘physical time’ and ‘biological time’ with change and recurrence without an external objective.

The selection and combination of the pieces Herchet leaves to the interpreter. Lydia Weißgerber and Reimund Böhmig, both connected to Herchet for a long time, have decided on three pieces from the 2nd booklet along with the first performance from the 5th booklet. With the worlds that span the distance between the crystalline clarity of No. VIII and the animated opulence of No. XI  (the central piece of the 2nd Booklet), the span between changes as form of time and observation is also intimated. A composition by Weißgerber rounds off CD 2.

The organ of the Dresden Kreuzkirche, which in its original design was an opulent instrument of the organ movement, strongly shaped Jörg Herchet’s auditory imagination as an organ composer. The organ of the Martin-Luther Church in Dresden very closely approaches his ideal sound for the instrument and at the same time offers the optimal opportunity for an authentic presentation of the works on this CD. All compositions are recorded here for the very first time.

Perfromed on the organ of the Martin-Luther Church, Dresden