Old Masters of the Organ, Book 5: Organ, Collections, Book

Straube's curation of these early organ masters gives organists direct access to foundational Baroque repertoire in carefully prepared editions. The collection balances works of different structural types (toccatas, chorale preludes, fugues) within a single volume, offering both technical challenge and musical substance. Book 5 anchors itself with three substantial Pachelbel pieces that reveal why his organ music remained essential teaching repertoire for centuries.

These pieces inhabit a world of clarity and structural logic, where ornament serves form rather than obscuring it. The chorale preludes offer moments of intimate reflection, while the toccata and fugal writing demand technical precision and confident navigation of manual changes. Throughout runs a distinctive voice of the German Baroque organ tradition, formal yet expressive, contrapuntal yet deeply rooted in harmonic language.

Organists at the advanced intermediate to advanced level will find this collection essential for building secure command of early Baroque keyboard writing and registration. Church musicians seeking substantial chorale-based repertoire for liturgical use or concert programming will value the mix of styles and modest technical demands. Students exploring organ history through performance will appreciate Straube's scholarly yet playable approach to these foundational works.

• Attend to Straube's articulation markings and pedal indications; his editorial choices reflect historically informed practice from the early Baroque organ tradition.
• The Pachelbel Toccata demands secure manual independence and clear registration choices; plan your stop combinations in advance to highlight the structural sections.
• Approach the chorale preludes with the understanding that each one decorates a known hymn tune; familiarity with the underlying chorale strengthens your interpretation.
• In the Praeludium, Fuge und Ciaconna, maintain rhythmic clarity through the fugal section and allow the ciaconna's dance character to emerge in its harmonic progression.

Include selections from this volume on recitals focused on Baroque organ literature or the development of organ music across centuries. The chorale preludes work especially well in liturgical settings where the associated hymns are sung or known to the congregation. Pair pieces from Book 5 with works from other volumes in the series to create a survey program of Straube's editorial vision.

• Baroque manual technique and independent hand work across two keyboards
• Registration planning for contrasting chorale melodies and fugal sections
• Ornamentation conventions in early Baroque keyboard music
• Rhythmic precision in dance forms (ciaconna) and formal fugal writing
• Understanding of cantus firmus development in chorale preludes