XAVER VARNUS PLAYS BACH ON THE FAMOUS RENATUS HARRIS ORGAN IN WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND

Johann Sebastian Bach: Choral Prelude 'Nun, komm', der Heiden Heiland' BWV 659

Renatus Harris (ca. 1652 - 1724) was a master organ maker in England in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries.

During the period of the Commonwealth, in the mid seventeenth century, Puritans controlled the country and organ music was banned in churches. Many organ makers left England for the continent, including Harris's father, Thomas. It was while the family was living in France that Harris was born. After the Restoration the family returned to England.

Harris grew up in his father's business and eventually became one of the two most prominent organ builders of his generation, along with his hated rival "Father" Bernard Smith. Harris had a flair for publicity and was not above using under-hand tactics against Smith. Harris's grandfather Renatus was also an organ maker, as were Renatus Harris's two sons (one also called Renatus).

He died at Salisbury in August or September, 1724.

The rivalry between the two men led to the famous 'Battle of the Organs' in 1684, when both were bidding for the contract to build the new organ for the Temple Church, London. Each erected an organ in the Temple Church and they hired prominent organists Giovanni Battista Draghi, John Blow and Henry Purcell to demonstrate the superiority of their instruments. Harris lost out to Smith, but in 1697, after Smith reneged on a contract for a new organ at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, Harris appositely installed the instrument which had lost there instead. Harris's organ, which was installed and maintained by John Baptist Cuvillie, and later Philip Hollister, was replaced by an organ by John Byfield in 1752. However, the Harris-Cuvillie organ which survived the 'Battle of the Organs' today survives in St John's Church, Wolverhampton.

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Category:

Music

Tags:

• wolverhampton
• bach
• johann
• sebastian
• varnus
• xaver
• organ
• orgel
• organo
• orgue
• orgona
• chorale
• nun
• komm
• der
• heiden
• heiland
• bwv
• 659
• classical

[gibedo1]

Già questo corale esprime l'esistenza di Dio e Bach ne è il suo testimone musicale. Bella interpretazione e scelta di registri.

[hearts0ngs]

Whatever your god, dharma, nirvana or highest good is - I feel it in this beautiful, sublime, glorious work of music.

[Foxymusicable]

This is how to play Bach. (tempo)

[Bunhouse]

Xaver, your performance of this chorale prelude is inspired and inspiring--a stellar performance.

[DominusNile]

Bravo! :)

[violetta47]

GREAT PERFOMANCE

[organgoesheavy]

I never have listened to a better performance than this one with its great&beautifull played ornamentals.

[yamahonkawazuki]

amazing