Sleepers Wake

I have been fortunate enough to hear organ music in peaceful repose at several great cathedrals in Europe and at the distinctly unique Duke Chapel (below).  Organ music is one of the genres of classical music that is almost uniquely associated with sacred music.  It is not surprising that the best places to hear such great music is in a cathedral where the sound can resonate amongst the stone walls, floors and grandly arched ceilings.

One of my favorite things about watching someone play the organ is the fact that they play with their hands in a similar way to a piano player, but usually on two or more different keyboards at different heights, and, simultaneously, use both of their feet!

One of my all time favorite selections is Bach's Wachet Auf.  What we usually hear on the organ is the choral prelude which Bach transcribed from his sacred Cantata by a similar name (BWV 645 - nice thing about many classical composers is that someone takes the time to catalog all their work in simplified form so you don't have to look it up by title).  The cantata was written for the 27th Sunday after Trinity Sunday (the first Sunday after Pentecost).

The following link takes you to the choral prelude (BWV 140).  Listen closely as the right hand begins with the melody and the feet take up the harmony.  Soon, a second melody is brought in with the left hand while the right continues with melody and simultaneous harmony.  This pattern goes back and forth throughout the piece using tone and timbre as well as volume to shift your focus from point to point in the music.

Sleepers Wake (Wachet Auf) - Organ Version

I suggest listening to it twice.  The first time, watch the video to see the movements of the organists hands and feet and then a second time with your eyes closed and try to follow the pattern of one or another melody or harmony.