…in Elbog’n liegt mein Ranzen (Variationen) (2003)

Andreas Willscher (b. 1955) — …in Elbog’n liegt mein Ranzen (Variationen) (2003) for organ

“…in Elbog’n liegt mein Ranzen (Variationen)” (2003) is a work that reflects Willscher’s lifelong musicology interests, especially in rare music from Silesia. The piece is set of variations on a Schnaderhüpfl, a kind of Gsanzl, which is an epigram-like folk song form. In Willscher’s piece, the jaunty melody is taken through contrasting variations, using different colors of the organ.

German composer and organist Andreas Willscher (b. 1955) studied composition, theory, and organ in his native Hamburg. In 1971 he was appointed organist of the St. Francis Church in Hamburg and in 2000 of the church of St. Joseph-Wandsbek. In addition, he has been keyboardist for several jazz and rock ensembles. Willscher has received many awards and commissions for his compositions, which range widely in form: from symphonic music and oratorios to cabaret and rock scores. His organ works are very diverse, ranging from large-scale post-tonal pieces to some that blend elements of the traditional repertoire with contemporary jazz and pop influences. In addition to his own composition and performing activities, Willscher has published a number of literary and scientific articles in journals and encyclopedias and has been very active in collecting and preserving lost and forgotten music from earlier eras. In 2015, in honor of his 60th birthday and life’s work as a musician, he was awarded the Johann Wenzel Stamitz Prize from the Arts Guild of Esslingen.