Praeludium in D Minor

Vincent Lübeck was a German Baroque composer who, alongside his contemporary Buxtehude, was a champion of the North German organ style, involving extensive use of the pedalboard, and fast, virtuosic keyboard passages.

The Praeludium in D Minor, also known as Prelude and Fugue, is a multi-sectional work, beginning with a grand introductory prelude of substantial length.
It is then followed by a strictly measured fugue with a repeated-note subject, a common feature of North German fugues.
The excellence of this work is certainly the way that the fugue gives way to virtuosity again, with the final section moving into a fast compound time.

Lübeck served as organist at St. Cosmae in Stade, a city in northern Germany. A few years ago I had the honour of playing this very piece at that church, where the baroque Schnitger organ of Lübeck’s time still exists. Having the exact organ that the composer may have written it on is certainly a privilege – and what’s better, the Stade organ sample set can be downloaded onto Hauptwerk.