Musical flower fields
The short and straightforward works by the Augsburg cathedral organist Johann Speth can be used in a variety of ways.
With the new two-volume edition of the collected organ works by Johann Speth (1664-ca. 1719/20), Doblinger is making an important source of South German keyboard music accessible again in the "Diletto Musicale" series. Until now, it has only been available in its entirety as a facsimile (Helbling 1993) or has been out of print for some time (Bärenreiter).
Under the title Ars magna consoni et dissoni. Organic-Instrumental Art, Ornamental and Pleasure Garden In 1693, the Augsburg cathedral organist published a collection of ten toccatas (or "Musicalische Blumen-Felder"), eight magnificats and three sets of variations. The toccatas are similar in style to those in the Apparatus musico-organisticus Georg Muffat (published three years earlier), but without reaching their complexity and wealth of ideas. Speth generally limits himself to a toccata-like introduction, usually over pedal organ points, a short manualiter fugue and a free postlude. Italian influences are recognizable in the Durezze-e-ligature sections and then above all in the series of variations, while the seven-movement Magnificat arrangements are comparable to those of Kerll. The dynamic indications in the Toccata Quarta are striking!
A recommendable new edition, as the works are very suitable for church services and concerts due to their brevity and manageability.
Johann Speth, Complete Organ Works, edited by Ingemar Melchersson, Diletto Musicale; Volume 1, DM 1449, € 18.95; Volume 2, DM 1450, € 20.95; Doblinger, Vienna 2013
