The brilliant organ preludes of Buxtehude, the pre-eminent North German composer of the 17th century, are known mainly through manuscripts of Bach's family and pupils. They typically consist of two or more fugal sections alternating with free sections. This G minor Praeludium opens with a ciaccona based on a repeated bass line.
Jean-Adam Guillaume Freinsberg, known as Guilain, lived in Paris during the first decade of the 18th century, where his four organ suites were published in 1706. Each suite consists of several short movements called versets which alternate with chant in a liturgical performance. The Magnificat was sung at Vespers or Evensong, and consisted of six versets alternating with five chant interludes. Guilain made excellent use of the sounds available on the French classical organ. Most versets take their title from registrations or stops of the organ, including the following:
Although written before 1719, this affective setting of the well-known communion hymn "Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness" was one of eighteen chorales revised and copied by the composer shortly before his death.
The death of Buxtehude's father, an organist in Denmark, inspired this contrapuntal masterpiece. The first four verses incorporate the melody "Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin," the German Nunc dimittis, associated with funerals. This is followed by a vocal