International Contius Bach Festival

More than a musical style, the North German school of the 17th century was a cultural phenomenon in which the organ not only sounded, but also enjoyed an extraordinary status. These were the heydays of urban pride, and cities such as Lübeck and Hamburg vied to have the largest and most impressive organ. These majestic organs inspired virtuoso feats and produced composers with an unparalleled reputation that extended far beyond the city limits. With J.P. Sweelinck as their forefather and D. Buxtehude as their radiant center, the North German composers formed an elite class within the music world. Their music was demanding, but their organs were tailored to it: multiple keyboards, extensive registers and a powerful pedal. In the stylus phantasticus, organ and organist challenged each other in a dynamic interplay of strict, contrapuntal movements and free, improvisatory passages. This ultimate combination of mastery and daring created a world of sound in which technique, improvisation and devotion merged into an unprecedented listening experience.

This summer, the Contius Bach Festival travels through this world – not only with the organ, but also with vocal and instrumental music. We follow the young Bach to Lübeck and Hamburg, where D. Buxtehude and J.A. Reincken initiate him into the North German tradition. But the journey also takes us further back: to Amsterdam, where J.P. Sweelinck sows the seed for this holy trinity of organ, composer and composition. His influence winds like a silver thread through generations of North German composers, until Bach picks it up and, as the master of his own musical universe, then goes his own way.