Programme: Dieterich Buxtehude, Membra Jesu Nostri BuxWV 75

When his large-scale Markus Passion could not take place in 2021, Jörn Boysen knew the perfect alternative: the cantata cycle Membra Jesu Nostri by the Lübeck organist and Bach teacher Dieterich Buxtehude. The Markus still sounded last season. And Jörn, himself from Lübeck, wanted to close his last season with Musica Antica with Buxtehude’s beautiful music, one of the most important passion compositions before that of J.S. Bach.

With Membra Jesu Nostri (occupied by 5 singers, 7 strings, organ and harpsichord) Buxtehude wrote a musical masterpiece in 1680. The Lutheran Church offers the musicians the opportunity, as was customary at the time, to perform Membra Jesu Nostri from the galleries next to the church organ. They also use the large Bätz organ. The result is a completely different, overwhelming sound image than we are used to from studio recordings.

Buxtehude dedicated his Membra Jesu Nostri to his friend Gustav Düben, court bandmaster in Stockholm. He took good care of the original, handwritten organ tablature. Jörn blows the dust off this and shows us how Buxtehude himself performed his music.

Executives
Musica Poetica and Spirit of Gambo conducted by Jörn Boysen

Program
Dieterich Buxtehude
Membra Jesu Nostri BuxWV 75

I Ad pedes
II Ad genoa
III Ad manual
IV Ad latus
V Ad pectus
VI Ad Cor
VII Ad faciem

instrumental works by Johann Rosenmüller and Jörn Boysen