Classical Christmas Music for Trumpet and Organ

Christian Century, Dec 14, 2004

Classical Christmas Music for Trumpet and Organ. Music by Bach, Krebs, Kauffmann, Alcock, and Corrette. Ludwig Guttler, Friedrich Kircheis, Felix Friedrich, Holm Vogel, and Hansjurgen Scholze. Laserlight 15272, $5.

About half of this disc is organ solos, from four different organists. It includes the standard Bach compositions on Christmas chorales (including the Vom Himmel hoch variations, with which Bach was inaugurated into a connoisseurs" society of musical scientists near the end of his life). More ear-catching are the various chorale arrangements in which Guttler joins the organ, playing either corno da caccia or trumpet. His playing adds a dynamic and articulative shape to the melodic lines.