Variationen zu Schlag-Aria 45 von Valentin Rathgeber, GWV 650/2 (2010)

Lothar Graap (b. 1933) — Variationen zu Schlag-Aria 45 von Valentin Rathgeber, GWV 650/2 (2010) for organ

The theme (presented first) is a “Schlag-Aria” (No. 45 ex Eb) by the German baroque composer Valentin Rathgeber (1682–1750). This is followed by five variations: Capriccio; Menuett; Arietta; Fanfare; Gigue.

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 Siegfried 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 Anton Böhm & Sohn