03/19/2021
From our organist Peggy Brengle: The prelude on March 21, 2021 is titled "Out of the Depths I Cry to Thee" and the text is often arranged for use during Lent, including by J.S. Bach. I chose this setting for many reasons including the composer's histories; the churches where they worked are still operating today!
Christian Geist (1650-1711), a German composer and organist, spent most of his life in Copenhagen. He died of the bubonic plague. The church where he was Cantor and organist, and the organ he played, are pictured in the video below.
Wolfgang Dachstein (1487-1553), also a German organist and composer, studied theology and music with Martin Luther and is the first notable organist of the Reformation. Pictured on the video is the church he served, St. Thomas' Church in Strasbourg, France. There are 2 organs in this cathedral, one in the balcony (pictured in the video) and the other in the front Choir area.
The manuscript pictured in the video is the tune composed by Dachstein which was used by Geist in creating the setting heard here.
