Franz Schmidt - Organ Works (Andreas Juffinger)

Information

Composer: Franz Schmidt

CD1

1. Variations & Fugue on an Original Theme "Königsfanfaren aus Fredigundis"
2. Prelude & Fugue in E-Flat Major
3. Toccata

CD2

1. Fantasia & Fugue in D Major
2. 4 Little Choral Preludes: No. 1, O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort
3. 4 Little Choral Preludes: No. 2, Was mein Gott will
4. 4 Little Choral Preludes: No. 3, O wie selig seid ihr doch, ihr Frommen
5. 4 Little Choral Preludes: No. 4, Nun danket alle Gott
6. Chaconne in C-Sharp Minor

CD3

1. Prelude & Fugue in C Major
2. Fugue in F Major
3. 4 Little Preludes & Fugues: No. 1 in E-Flat Major
4. 4 Little Preludes & Fugues: No. 2 in C Minor
5. 4 Little Preludes & Fugues: No. 3 in G Major
6. 4 Little Preludes & Fugues: No. 4 in D Major "Hallelujah"

CD4

1. Choral Prelude on Joseph Haydn's "Emperor's Hymn"
2. Der Heiland ist erstanden
3. Prelude & Fugue in A Major
4. Toccata & Fugue in A-Flat Major

Andreas Juffinger, organ

Date: 1988 / 2025

Label: Capriccio

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Review

This is a re-release in one package of Franz Schmidt's complete organ works recorded fifteen or so years ago by Andreas Juffinger and presented chronologically, the works being written between 1916 and 1935. To the best of my knowledge this is the only complete recording of this composer's organ works.

Schmidt represents a curious figure in 20th century organ composition. Comparatively prolific in terms of large-scale pieces, and a rough contemporary of, for example, Louis Vierne, this Austrian enigma (of Hungarian descent) is known among a few British organists, and then mostly for just two pieces: the Toccata in C and the small Prelude and Fugue in D. The Prelude of the latter is actually an organ solo for his oratorio The Book with Seven Seals which some readers may remember was performed at the Proms a few years ago. Listening to the entire oeuvre confirms that these indeed are the two most immediately attractive pieces, the sonata-form, energetic Toccata is especially compelling. It also raises the question though of why the large-scale pieces receive so much less attention than the large-scale pieces of, for example, Reger, or indeed Karg-Elert. Schmidt's bitter-sweet harmonic language, instantly recognisable, is to my ears more listener-friendly than that of either of the aforementioned, with the possible exception of some of the later pieces, especially the ultra-chromatic Toccata and Fugue in A-flat. Probably the leviathan nature of many of Schmidt's pieces have led in fact to their neglect. Who else could write Preludes and Fugues of 25 or 30 minutes, or Chorale Preludes of more than ten? The question then is quite simple, is the neglect justified? I believe not, even the longest Preludes and Fugues, while sometimes structurally extremely complex, have a kind of fascinating inventiveness, which repays repeated listening. Some pieces are of course more interesting than others, the earlier pieces, especially the E-flat Prelude and Fugue and the Toccata appealed to me most.

The Austrian organist, Andreas Juffinger presents what must have been a mammoth undertaking with virtuosity and commitment. Unfortunately his choice of organ is poor. Although it is known that Schmidt disliked the orchestrally-inspired organ and organ building prevalent in his time, the choice of a sterile and colourless Klais (I believe), instrument in a rather dry acoustic is unworthy of the music. No information about the organ is given. This is deeply regrettable in any organ recording.

— Chris Bragg

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Franz Schmidt (22 December 1874 – 11 February 1939) was an Austro-Hungarian composer. A piano student of Theodor Leschetizky and a composition pupil of Anton Bruckner, he began his career as a cellist with the Vienna Court Opera, where he experienced professional tensions with Gustav Mahler. Schmidt later taught composition at the Vienna Staatsakademie and served as director of the Musikhochschule (1927–31). His music, sometimes compared to Max Reger, includes the opera Notre Dame, the oratorio Das Buch mit sieben Siegeln, four symphonies, left-hand works for Paul Wittgenstein, and organ works.

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Andreas Juffinger (born 1964 in Kufstein, Tyrol) is an Austrian organist. He studied organ with Rudolf Scholz at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, alongside piano and harpsichord, and completed a masterclass with Lionel Rogg. Juffinger won first prizes at the Jugend musiziert competition (1985) and the International Anton Bruckner Organ Competition in Linz (1986), and received the Austrian Federal Minister's Würdigungspreis in 1987. He has performed internationally, appearing at major venues, and collaborated with leading orchestras, contributing to many radio and CD recordings.

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