Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland BuxWV 211

Buxtehude's setting of the Lutheran choral 'Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland' is perhaps less well known than Bach's larger scale version from the Leipzig Chorale. However, in its miniature form, it is every bit as beautiful. Buxtehude presents the melody in an embellished form with a dignified accompaniment, which seems designed to convey something of the solemnity of the Advent season. The fact that the accompanying voices carry a good share of the melodic material is testament to the genius of Buxtehude's compositional style.

Although the Mathis organ (the Sonnenorgel) in the church of St Peter & St Paul, Görlitz is a huge instrument, it is capable of being beguilingly intimate too. The 'Hobois' of the Brustwerk (combined with the 4' flute and Tertia on the same division) made for a characterful combination well suited to this piece.