Chromatische Fuge Op. 84

Hermann Berens (7.4.1826, Hamburg - 9.5.)
1880, Stockholm) was son of the military music director and composer Karl Berens
(1801-1857). The brothers of Hermann's were the Hamburg-based music publisher Ernst Berens and the violinist and music dealer from Lübeck, Adolph
Berens. H. Berens was first taught by his father, then by Johann Gottlieb
Reissiger in Dresden. In 1847 he moved to Stockholm, where he settled down with the establishment of quartet soirées in the city's musical life. In 1849 he became music director in Örebro and in 1860 he became Music director at the Mindretheatre in Stockholm, later court conductor and composition teacher at the music academy. As a private teacher of the
King's wife Luise von Oraninen-Nassau, as well as professor and full member of the Royal Academy, became famous in Sweden during his lifetime. He has composed several operas, often performed operettas, chamber music and numerous piano works and etudes. His organwork "Chromatische Fuge" op. 84 is dedicated to the Organist of St. Marien, Lübeck Hermann Jimmerthal (1809-1886). Jimmerthal was living in the Marienwerkhaus and is regarded as a role model for the figure of Edmund Pfühl in Thomas Mann's "Buddenbrook". Mann also used Jimmerthal's names for the figure of Erwin Jimmerthal in "Tonio Kröger". During his term of office from 1851 to 1854, Johann Friedrich Schulze completely rebuilt the Great Organ of St. Marien Church. The composer Berens must have known the Schulze organ in St. Marien Church very well. The Introduction with the 8 foot ranks requires an extraordinarily large dynamic increase with the swell (Echo and Swell) On a "normal" organ, these crescendi and decrescendi are hardly adequate. Berens composed this organ piece on September 8, 1870 in Stockholm. The manuscript is stored in the public library of Lübeck.

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