Johann Kuhnau - Musicalische Vorstellung einiger biblischer Historien (digital)
This is the digital version of ORG001 - Johann Kuhnau - Musicalische Vorstellung einiger biblischer Historien. After completing checkout you will be sent an email which will contain links to download the album as either MP3 (320k), WAV (16 bit 44.1k) or FLAC (16 bit 44.1k). If you would like to purchase both a physical CD and the digital files, please click here.
Recorded by Richard Apperley on the Flentrop organ, St Paul's Lutheran Church, Wellington, New Zealand.
Audio samples
An extract from 'The combat between David and Goliath'.
This movement depicts the battle between David and the giant, the slingshot being fired and Goliath staggering to his death.
Extract from 'The combat between David and Goliath' by RichardApperley
An extract from 'The tomb of Jacob'.
Earlier in the sonata Jacob tells his sons he is dying and blesses them, and after his death his body is taken from Egypt to the land of Canaan. This movement depicts his burial, and the sorrow of those present.
Extract from 'The Tomb of Jacob' by RichardApperley
About the music
The sonatas (published in 1700) are rarely performed or recorded, but are tremendously exciting and pictorial works. Kuhnau employs a vast array of styles and forms to achieve this – including battle scenes, music representing the depths of despair and even a figure to depict the pebble fired from David's slingshot hurtling towards Goliath, followed by the giant staggering to his death
They are based on six stories found in the Old Testament:
- The combat between David and Goliath
- The melancholy of Saul assuaged by means of music
- The wedding of Jacob
- Hezekiah's illness and restoration to health
- Gideon the saviour of the people of Israel
- The tomb of Jacob
Click here to read about the organ.
Producer - Kyle Macdonald
Engineer / post-production - Reuben Moore
