Toccata and Fugue in G Minor

Max Drischner (31 January 1891 – 25 April 1971) was born in Prieborn, Silesia. He started theological studies in 1910 at Leipzig and Breslau. However, after seven semesters he gave this up in order to study the organ, piano and harpsichord at the Berlin Music Academy.

After WWI, through self-teaching, he acquired an extensive knowledge about the music before the Bach period. He gave his first harpsichord concerts in Breslau in 1920 and in Brieg in 1923. In Brieg he was trained by Paul Hielscher in organ playing and choir leading. In 1923, he founded a youth choir, that was later united with the choir from St. Nikolai in Brieg. In 1924, he was appointed as cantor and organist of St. Nikolai in Brieg.

During his tenure in Brieg, he composed the majority of his organ and vocal works. He also led his choir to acclaimed success. He also took part in choir and church music conventions. In the interests of the organ movement he had the famous Michael-Engler-Organ restored between 1926 and 1928. From 1927, he traveled at least six times to Norway, in order to study Norwegian folk melodies which would form the basis for many of his compositions. In 1942, in recognition of his ministry in Brieg, he was appointed Kirchenmusikdirektor.

In January 1945, as Brieg was declared a military fortress, Drischner had to flee to Prieborn. In Prieborn, he undertook the ministry of organist in the Lutheran church and also in the Catholic church in nearby Siebenhufen. In the autumn of 1946, Max Drischner, his mother and his sister Margarethe were expelled from Silesia.

In 1955 the three Drischners moved to Goslar, the partner town of Brieg. In 1956, the City of Goslar honored Max Drischner with the award of the City Culture Prize.

The score for "Toccata and Fugue" (published 1936) is attached below, as well as 2 photos of Max Drischner, and of the organ and church of St. Nikolai, Brieg (before WWII damage.)

Please see FIRST COMMENT for info about Drischner's musical style.