Fuga Quinti Toni RW56

Johann Baptist Peyer (around 1678, † 10. April 1733 in Vienna), organist and composer.

From 1698 Peyer was organ and music teacher, in 1699, 1705 and 1712 also prefect of the boys' choir in the Cistercian Abbey of Heiligenkreuz, where a "camerarius major" Peyer (1651–1726), possibly a relative, was active from 1693 to 1698.

Since 1712 Peyer had been the organist of the Empress-widow Eleonora (wife of Leopold I) and after her death was appointed by Hofkpm. Joh. Jos. Fux in 1721 as organist in the imperial court chapel.

According to Fux, he is said to be “one of the best organists (quoted from L. von Köchel 1872, p. 442).

Despite Fux's intercession, Peyer was unable to get a pay increase. He apparently left his family in great poverty.

This piece with its long flowing lines reminded me of many a Spanish Tiento, so I played it on a Spanish organ with a beautiful Flautado 8'.

It starts deep down, like an animal sleeping, going ever higher on the scales as it wakes up till the last page,, where it goes to sleep again on a last lingering chord.

Probably not what Peyer intended, but he is in no position to complain anymore anyway.