Erde, singe, dass es klinge (Thema und Variationen), GWV 684 (2012)

Lothar Graap (b. 1933) — Erde, singe, dass es klinge (Thema und Variationen), GWV 684 (2012) for organ

Thema; Duo; Arioso; Interludium; Menuett; Toccatina; Cantus; Monolog; Sarabande; Scherzo; Nachspiel

“Erde, singe, dass es klinge (Thema und Variationen)” is a setting of a festive German hymn. The text by Johannes Geissel (originally Christmas-themed, but amended over the years to be one of general praise) first appeared in the 1830s, coupled with a tune from the mid 1750s. In the 1869 printing in the complete written works of Geissel, there were ten verses (perhaps analogous here to Graap’s 10 variations).

Lothar Graap (b. 1933) is a German composer and church musician. Educated at the conservatory in Görlitz, his primary teachers were Eberhard Wenzel and Hans Schneider. He also studied with Helmut Bornefeld and Siegfred Reda. In 1954 he began a career as a professional church musician in Niemegk, and he pursued this work at several positions until his retirement in 1998 from Cottbus, where he had been cantor at the Klosterkirche. By the time of his retirement, he had performed and directed more than 1000 vespers services and concerts in Cottbus. Graap has composed more than 700 compositions in many forms, with a particular focus on organ and choral music.

Published by Musik-Edition Récit