Few things in this world capture the grandeur of the divine quite like the sound of a pipe organ filling a sacred space. This was especially true at Maria Laach Abbey on Sunday, March 9, 2025, where organist Gereon Krahforst brought the abbey’s magnificent organ to life with a carefully curated program of Bach’s masterpieces. The selection reflected not only the technical brilliance of the composer but also his deep spiritual insights; affirming the eternal majesty of Bach’s music.
The concert began with the Prelude and Fugue in F minor, BWV 534; a work that exemplifies Bach’s ability to balance somber intensity with an almost architectural sense of order. The deep, brooding tones of the prelude contrasted beautifully with the fugue’s intricate counterpoint; setting the stage for the journey ahead. Following this, Krahforst performed several of Bach’s Chorale Preludes; starting with “O Mensch, bewein’ dein Sünde groß” BWV 622; a piece from the Orgelbüchlein that meditates on human sin and redemption. The long, flowing melody; woven over a subtle yet expressive accompaniment; created an atmosphere of profound reflection.
The program continued with two settings of “Aus tiefer Not ich schrei zu Dir”; BWV 686 and BWV 687; each showcasing a different approach to the same powerful Lutheran hymn. The former, written in organo pleno a pedale doppio; was grand and imposing; demanding mastery of the instrument; while the latter, labeled manualiter; offered a more intimate and intricate meditation. The Trio in D minor, BWV 583; provided a lighter, more lyrical interlude; demonstrating Bach’s mastery of trio textures with its playful interweaving of voices. After this, the concert returned to the realm of faith with the Chorale Prelude “Ehre sei Dir, Christe” BWV 1097; an exultant declaration of praise and devotion.
No Bach organ recital would be complete without a grand finale; and what better way to conclude than with the Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 582? This piece stood as one of Bach’s greatest achievements for the organ; featuring a powerful repeating bass line that served as the foundation for an increasingly complex and dramatic set of variations. The fugue that followed built to an overwhelming climax; leaving listeners in awe of Bach’s genius.
Beyond the sheer beauty of the music; concerts like this at Maria Laach Abbey remind us of the organ’s role as a bridge between the earthly and the divine. Whether in the thunderous majesty of the full organ or the hushed reverence of a single sustained note; Bach’s music spoke to the soul; offering moments of both grandeur and peace. As the final notes of the Passacaglia faded into the abbey’s sacred silence; the audience was left in deep reverence. Bach’s music, performed in such a setting, was more than just sound; it was a spiritual experience; an invitation to reflect; to feel; and to connect with something greater than ourselves.
The audience was encouraged to support the continuation of these concerts through donations; ensuring that the tradition of great organ music at Maria Laach lives on. After all, in the words inscribed on the program:
Im gewaltigen Klang der Orgel können wir Gottes Größe erfahren; in ihren stillen Klängen seinen Frieden. (In the mighty sound of the organ, we can experience God's greatness; in its quiet tones, His peace).
The concert program reads:
Maria Laach
Laacher Organ Impulses
Sunday, March 9, 2025, 16:00
Gereon Krahforst, Maria Laach, Organ
Program
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
- Prelude and Fugue in F minor, BWV 534
- Chorale Prelude “O Mensch, bewein’ dein Sünde groß”, BWV 622
- Chorale Prelude “Aus tiefer Not ich schrei zu Dir”, BWV 686 (in organo pleno a pedale doppio)
- Chorale Prelude “Aus tiefer Not ich schrei zu Dir”, BWV 687 (manualiter)
- Trio in D minor, BWV 583
- Chorale Prelude “Ehre sei Dir, Christe”, BWV 1097
- Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 582
We kindly ask for your generous donation at the exit to support the continuation of the beloved matinée series.
"In the mighty sound of the organ, we can experience God's greatness; in its quiet tones, His peace."
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