Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707)

Series

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

2014

Early Years

20140707

Donald Macleod explores the early life of Dieterich Buxtehude, who reigned supreme in the late 17th century as one of the world's greatest organists. As a young man Buxthude followed in his father's footsteps, taking his first post as organist in the church of St. Mary's in Helsingborg, in present day Sweden ? his father's old job.

Donald Macleod on Buxtehude's early years, when he followed in his father's footsteps.

2014

Organist In Lubeck

20140708

Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Dieterich Buxtehude. Buxtehude was around thirty years old when he took up the position he would occupy for the rest of his life - organist and Werkmeister at St Mary's church in Lübeck, on the Baltic coast of northern Germany. In today's programme Donald Macleod describes one of the more unusual preconditions of the job: marriage to his predecessor's daughter.

Donald Macleod focuses on Buxtehude's work as organist at St Mary's Church in Lubeck.

2014

Evening Music

20140709

Dieterich Buxtehude was much more than just a church organist; he composed cantatas, oratorios, chamber music and, at St Mary's in Lübeck, he organised some of the earliest public concerts ever held in a church. Music of the pieces of music featured in these Abendmusiken ? 'evening musics' ? have been lost, but in today's programme Donald Macleod presents an extract from what might be Buxtehude's only surviving abendmusik oratorio.

Donald Macleod explores the unique public concerts Buxtehude staged.

2014

Visitors

20140710

In today's programme Donald Macleod explores some of the musicians who travelled to hear Dieterich Buxtehude perform. One day towards the end of 1705, a young man of twenty turned up at Buxtehude's door at St. Mary's church in Lübeck. He introduced himself as Johann Sebastian Bach. He had heard about Buxtehude's legendary organ playing and had walked all the way from Arnstadt ? 280 miles away ? to hear him play in person. Bach had taken leave of his post for four weeks. He stayed for three months. On his return, Bach got into trouble on two counts: for staying away so long, and for now playing the chorales in such a bizarre way that the congregation was thoroughly confused.

Donald Macloed discusses some of the visitors drawn to Buxtehude's church in Lubeck.

2014

05 LAST

Nothing Is More Useless Than Old Music

20140711

Donald Macleod explores the final years and legacy of Dieterich Buxtehude. An account from just after Buxtehude's death, in 1707, gives a clue as to the fate that befell much of his music: 'Everything that [such] men wrote with so much trouble and work... has not the slightest value now... much of it has gone into the stove, in place of kindling, much has been given to people who can use all sorts of scarps and paper in their shops... for nothing is more useless than old music.'.

Donald Macleod explores Buxtehude's final years and legacy.

Episodes

Series	Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
2014	01	Early Years	20140707	Donald Macleod explores the early life of Dieterich Buxtehude, who reigned supreme in the late 17th century as one of the world's greatest organists. As a young man Buxthude followed in his father's footsteps, taking his first post as organist in the church of St. Mary's in Helsingborg, in present day Sweden ? his father's old job. Donald Macleod on Buxtehude's early years, when he followed in his father's footsteps.
2014	02	Organist In Lubeck	20140708	Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Dieterich Buxtehude. Buxtehude was around thirty years old when he took up the position he would occupy for the rest of his life - organist and Werkmeister at St Mary's church in Lübeck, on the Baltic coast of northern Germany. In today's programme Donald Macleod describes one of the more unusual preconditions of the job: marriage to his predecessor's daughter. Donald Macleod focuses on Buxtehude's work as organist at St Mary's Church in Lubeck.
2014	03	Evening Music	20140709	Dieterich Buxtehude was much more than just a church organist; he composed cantatas, oratorios, chamber music and, at St Mary's in Lübeck, he organised some of the earliest public concerts ever held in a church. Music of the pieces of music featured in these Abendmusiken ? 'evening musics' ? have been lost, but in today's programme Donald Macleod presents an extract from what might be Buxtehude's only surviving abendmusik oratorio. Donald Macleod explores the unique public concerts Buxtehude staged.
2014	04	Visitors	20140710	In today's programme Donald Macleod explores some of the musicians who travelled to hear Dieterich Buxtehude perform. One day towards the end of 1705, a young man of twenty turned up at Buxtehude's door at St. Mary's church in Lübeck. He introduced himself as Johann Sebastian Bach. He had heard about Buxtehude's legendary organ playing and had walked all the way from Arnstadt ? 280 miles away ? to hear him play in person. Bach had taken leave of his post for four weeks. He stayed for three months. On his return, Bach got into trouble on two counts: for staying away so long, and for now playing the chorales in such a bizarre way that the congregation was thoroughly confused. Donald Macloed discusses some of the visitors drawn to Buxtehude's church in Lubeck.
2014	05 LAST	Nothing Is More Useless Than Old Music	20140711	Donald Macleod explores the final years and legacy of Dieterich Buxtehude. An account from just after Buxtehude's death, in 1707, gives a clue as to the fate that befell much of his music: 'Everything that [such] men wrote with so much trouble and work... has not the slightest value now... much of it has gone into the stove, in place of kindling, much has been given to people who can use all sorts of scarps and paper in their shops... for nothing is more useless than old music.'. Donald Macleod explores Buxtehude's final years and legacy.