Dietrich
Buxtehude is a name that may not be very familiar but it is a name that is very
significant in the history of Baroque music. Information about Buxtehude’s
birth and childhood is unclear, though 1637 is given as the year of his birth. Most
of his career was spent in Lubeck , Germany as the organist at St. Mary’s
Church. He was employed there from 1668 until he died in 1707. During his time
at St. Mary’s, Buxtehude grew famous. He attracted an audience from quite a
distance around, including George Frideric Handel and Johann Sebastian Bach.
Buxtehude’s
compositions include many preludes for organ, fugues, toccatas, and suites for harpsichord,
several violin sonatas and other chamber works, and various choral settings. Membra Jesu Nostri is on one of the
largest of his choral works, a setting of biblical and poetic texts referring
to the body of Christ on the Cross. Membra
Jesu Nostri is the main feature of the New Jersey Chamber Singers program
on May 17th & 18th 2014.
The man himself: Dietrich Buxtehude
- For a timeline of Buxtehude’s life
please click here:
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