Buxtehude began his activity at St. Mary’s Church exactly 350 years ago, and the City of Lübeck fittingly commemorated this anniversary by awarding this year’s renowned Buxtehude Prize to organist Harald Vogel.

Matched by no other musician, Vogel has distinguished himself both in historical organ playing in general and with Buxtehude’s oeuvre in particular. To celebrate this occasion, MDG is now releasing a highly interesting new edition containing all of Buxtehude’s works from the Codex E.B. of 1688 and including – as a surprising rarity – the recording premiere of a Sonata with obbligato gamba. The specialist Thomas Fritzsch proves to be a virtuosic and tonally sensitive duo partner for Vogel.

This CD offers a valuable documentation of significant instrumental resources. More than a hundred original stops from Buxtehude’s times are employed, and the organs from Torrlosa, Helsingor, and Lübeck’s Church of St. James – places where the composer himself was active – are now being heard together for the first time ever on CD.

This circumstance harmonizes very well with the Codex works, which were performed as liturgical music during religious services, “sub communione”, during the Lord’s Supper.