Numberings

I'd thought it was more, but this was probably only the third time I've heard Martin Lucker performing one of his free 30-min organ concerts in St Katharinenkirche in Frankfurt but this was no.3917 in his series and he's played most of them. I imagine it's something quite exporatory for locals who can come to them regularly, because he doesn't play the overly obvious repertoire. After the first 2000 I reckon you are exploring widely for your material. The Bach today didn't have a BWV number but was noted op. posth., Prelude and fugue Gmin. If I heard correctly, the fugue was really not what I'd expected, more two-part interplay than fugue, but I'll bow to Bach. Then Jehan Alain Fantasie and Max Reger Fantasy on the chorale "Don't punish me in your anger" op.40 no.2. Again, if I got parts, movements, etc identified correctly, this last was all repeating arpeggios moving up and down scales and some meeker responses; mostly loud and insistent and big. So a big earful from our committed organist, presumably on a goodly loud organ.

Prof Martin Lücker (organ) performed 30-min orgelmusik no. 3,937 in St Katharinen, Frankfurt.

3508 and counting

Organ concerts in churches are a common tourist pleasure in Europe. I know I've been to a few. One was St Katharinen here in Frankfurt where Martin Lücker played a few years ago. That was his concert no.3424. It's a few years on now and Martin was playing his concert no.3508 of Bach Fantasie C Major and Reger Symphonic fantasy and fugue and I was back. Along with about 150 others. These weren't tourists. This is obviously a regular outing for many frankfurters. The Bach was attractive but the Reger was overwhelming. The organ is big and loud and fills the bare, rebuilt space. Reger takes full advantage with ever rising lines of varying degrees of mania. Mvt.2 was some relief with perhaps occasional descending lines but then the climbs returned, excessive and fabulous on deep, loud organ pipes. An organist is frequently obscured or unseen up back in the loft. In this case he's even hidden behind another set of pipes. I thought it was loud so I tested with my phone. I was surprised to find loud passages measured just 75db , much the same as the background noise on the Boeing I'd just flying over on. If the app is accurate. I prefer the organ. But my other thought is Martin Lücker 's music reading. He's virtually played 2 concerts a week since 1985 and the music is not trivial and he plays the music capably and confidently. This is a seriously admirable skill. I am in awe.


Martin Lücker (organ) performed at St Katharinen in Frankfurt.

Organs

Pipe organs in churches must have been the musical wonder of their age. In a time before PAs ad even before the louder strings and keys, there was the organ. Even now, it’s loud, especially down low, and exciting, if sometimes muffled. But you have to love it. Europe has a great tradition of organs and frequent public concerts in churches. They are easy to happen on. In this case we saw an announcement, 30-min organ recital at St Katherinenkirke, centrally located here in Frankfurt. A little concert is lovely, especially when the music is from Buxtehude, JS Bach and Josef Labor. Perhaps even more impressive was the permanence of this concert series. This was no. 3424 performed by Organist Prof. Martin Lücker who had played most of those 3424 concerts. The series started on 1 Feb 1983 and I’m told Martin has performed virtually all concerts since, other than an occasional fill-in. Impressive. The program we saw carries on past Christmas so its well organised. And it’s well attended at 4.30pm each Monday and Thursday. I estimated about 150-200 were in the stalls this day. And this is not the only music here: there’s a choir and a significant music program at St K’s, the largest Protestant church in Frankfurt. And what a lovely experience. I recognised some Buxtehude. The Bach less so, but he’s a genius regardless. And Labor was someone new. This was a 3 movement sonata (H-moll=Bmin, op.15) and a worthy piece. So, a lovely interlude on a business day but otherwise a musically sparse day.

Martin Lücker performed Buxtehude, Bach and Labor on the Rieger organ at St Katherinenkirke in Frankfurt.