Both organs recorded on this CD resound optimally within their respective church interiors thanks to the outstanding acoustics there. The very different sizes of these interiors are ultimately responsible for the diverging interpretations on the two instruments. The recurring long note values of the Gregorian chant in the Mass awaken the feeling of timelessness – here, the tremendous monumentality of the performances can make a maximum effect within the large space of the Klosterneuburg Monastery Church. The smaller Gabelbach organ evokes a nimble, chamber-music orientated manner of playing which conveys to the listener a certain closeness to the events within the much smaller space. Hassler’s keyboard music assumes that the player will use a single manual, and this consideration was observed on the present recording; solo registrations were as yet unknown in Hassler’s time. Of course, “sparing” registrations were occasionally used on the large organ of Klosterneuburg.

- Johannes-Freundt Organ 1642, Klosterneuburg Monastery Church, Austria
- Günzer-Organ 1609, St. Martin Gabelbach, Germany