Sigfrid Karg-Elert - Jesu hilf siegen (Op. 65, No. 26) - Ben Bloor

Jesu hilf siegen (Op. 65, No. 26) from the Chorale Improvisations by Sigfrid Karg-Elert performed by Ben Bloor on the 45 stop 1954 Downes/Walker organ of the London Oratory Church on Thursday 4th January 2024.
The German composer Sigfrid Karg-Elert had an enormous catalogue of compositions for the organ, numbering well over 250, and matched only by his contemporary Max Reger. Karg-Elert’s musical style typically explores the vast array of tonal colours present on the German Romantic organ, however this small prelude from his 'Chorale Improvisations' presents a gentle and soothing response to a text which addresses the idea of good overcoming evil.
Ben Bloor is Organist at the London Oratory Church and School Organist at Westminster School. For more information, please visit www.benbloor.com
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[@organman77]

Wow!

[@grahamtwist]

This is the first time I have heard Karg-Elert's setting of 'Jesu hilf siegen' (text written in 1696 . . . but finding information of interest on it and the chorale melody for you has defeated me on this occasion!). Your performance masterfully delivers all the tender, pious sentiment woven by Sigfid into this music and I think the piece is very beautiful and quite affecting with your gentle registration: bravo, Ben!

[@FranzSchmidtYoutube]

Demisemiquavers in Adagissimo: 1 sheet in 5 minutes 😯. You did perfect justice to the required expressiveness: divoto / espressivo / ligato. Sehr langsam und weihevoll. 🤓 Sehr cool, Herr Meisterorganist Bloor ! 😎