Old Masters of the Organ, Book 6: Organ, Collections, Book

Straube's editorial choices preserve the contrapuntal integrity and harmonic language of these six pieces while making them accessible to organists working on modern instruments. The collection spans three centuries and four countries of organ music, offering substantial study material that rewards deep engagement with each work's individual character and technical demands.

These pieces inhabit a world of quiet devotion and learned counterpoint, where melody unfolds through multiple voices with the clarity of Renaissance polyphony. The writing balances formal structure with moments of expressive tenderness, particularly in the chorale-based works, creating music that feels both intellectually rigorous and spiritually grounded.

Organists with intermediate to advanced technical skills who are ready to explore the historical foundations of organ music will find substantial material here. This collection suits both recital preparation and ongoing studio work for students seeking to deepen their understanding of pre-Bach and early Baroque organ practice.

• Approach the registration thoughtfully for each piece; these works come from different eras and regional traditions, and each benefits from distinct color and weight.
• Pay close attention to the manuscript sources and editorial markings that Straube provides; they guide your interpretation of ornamentation, articulation, and phrasing.
• Build finger independence and legato technique through the contrapuntal passages, especially in the Sweelinck fantasia and the Tunder chorale fantasy.
• Allow time for the harmonies to speak; many of these pieces gain their power through sustained sonority rather than rapid harmonic motion.

Program individual pieces from this collection alongside later Baroque works to trace the evolution of chorale treatment and organ idiom. A single work from Book 6 can anchor a recital program focused on a specific national school or historical period; the variety within the six pieces allows you to build programs around particular themes like the chorale fantasia or sacred song.

• Reading and interpreting early organ notation and editorial conventions
• Developing independent voice leading in multi-part polyphonic writing
• Sustaining long-lined melodies while managing underlying harmonic support
• Making informed registration choices based on historical context and musical texture
• Understanding the relationship between chorale melodies and compositional elaboration