Opus 6 - Works for America

 

            Opus6nr1           Opus6nr2           Opus6nr3           Opus6nr4           Opus6nr5           Opus6nr6

 

Opus 6 No. 1

   Toccata, Aria and Fugue

         Concordia, 1956. 97-4396. (Originally printed by HŸllenhagen & Griehl, Hamburg in 1954)

         (also publ. in The Master Organ Works of Jan Bender, vol. 5, ed. David Fienen. Concordia 2005. 97-7102)

             organ

             3 movements

                      Composed: Feb. 1954

                      Dedicated to Hans Heinze and premiered by him in 1954 (September 16?) at St. Johannis, LŸneburg

 

Opus 6 No. 2

   Twenty Short Organ Pieces

         Concordia, 1956. 97-3948

                      Completed: 1955

     ÒDie in den USA weitaus am weitesten verbreiteten meiner OrgelstŸcke neben Choralvorspiele I.Ó

     (This is by far the most widely disseminated of my organ works in the USA next to the Chorale Preludes [opus 2].)

                                    --Jan Bender Werkverzeichnis 2

    [In BenderÕs desk copy is a notation that he played #3 from this collection at St. Gertrude in LŸbeck on 3. June 1984 and had also played it there on 3. June 1934--his first Sunday in his first job!]

 

     [Larry Palmer (p. 55 & 176) records that BenderÕs Toccata was the prelude for the 37th Vespers (during DistlerÕs tenure as organist) at St. Jakobi in LŸbeck on Nov. 29, 1936. In his diary (Tagebuch 1), on Nov. 14, 1936, Bender wrote ÒToccata c spiele ich in der nŠchsten Jacobivesper.Ó (I will play Toccata in c in the next Vespers at St. Jakobi.) I believe that that Toccata probably is the one that ended up as no. 7 in Opus 6/2.]

 

Opus 6 No. 3

   A Palm Sunday Processional "All Glory, Laud and Honor"

         Concordia, 1956. 97-1396

         (also publ. in The Master Organ Works of Jan Bender, vol. 4, ed. David Fienen. Concordia 2005. 97-7101)

             organ

             Tune: Valet will ich dir geben

                      Composed: 1955

 

Opus 6 No. 4

   A Chorale Fantasy for Easter "Awake My Heart"

         Concordia, 1960. 97-4467

         (also publ. in The Master Organ Works of Jan Bender, vol. 4, ed. David Fienen. Concordia 2005. 97-7101)

             organ

             Tune: Auf, auf, mein Herz

 

Opus 6 No. 5

   The Order of Holy Communion

         Concordia, 1959. 97-1434 (melody ed.) 97-6322

             organ and congregation

             congregational setting of TLH Communion liturgy

             7 movements plus short liturgical responses

                      Composed: 1956

             Contents:

                  Kyrie (Lord, have mercy)

                  Gloria in Excelsis (Glory be to God)

                  Gospel Responses

                  Offertory (Create in me a clean heart)

                  Preface (English)

                  Sanctus (Holy, holy, holy)

                      (also publ. in A Second Morning Star Choir Book. Concordia, 1965. 97-4702)

                  Agnus Dei (O Christ, Thou Lamb of God)

                      (also publ. in The Morning Star Choir Book. Concordia, 1957. 97-6287)

                  Nunc Dimittis (Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace)

                  Amen

 

Opus 6 No. 6

   Six Variations on a Theme by Daniel Moe "I Lift Up My Eyes"

         Augsburg, 1962. 11-7020

             6 variations for organ

                      Composed: 1957

                      Premier performance: by the composer in the Dom at Karlstad, Sept. 12, 1957

                      (Bender performed this work repeatedly in concerts throughout Europe)

     The following registrations were used by the composer while organist at St. Michaelis Church in LŸneburg.

     I=Hauptwerk; II=RŸckpositiv; III=Oberwerk

     Theme       I: Gedackt 8Õ, Rohrflšte 4Õ

     Var. I&II    I: +Oktave 2Õ

                     II: Gedackt 8Õ, Blockflšte 4Õ, Sifflšte 1 1/3Õ

                     III: Quintade 8Õ, Gedackt 4Õ, Waldflšte 2Õ, Oktave 1/2Õ

                     Ped.: Subbass 16Õ, Gedackt 8Õ, Regal 4Õ, Nachthorn 2Õ, Glšckleinton 1Õ

     Var. III       + Coupler III/I

                     Ped.: Subbass 16Õ, Pommer 4Õ

     Var. IV      +Coupler II/I

                     II: +Scharff IV

                     Ped.: +Principal 16Õ, +Oktave 8Õ, +Rauschfpeife IV

     Var. V       -Couplers

                     II: Rankett 16Õ, Blockflšte 4Õ

                     III: -Oktave 1/2Õ

                     Ped.: Subbass 16Õ, Pommer 4Õ

     Var. VI      Manuals: Tutti

                     Ped.: Trompete 8Õ