Kyrie based on the Adagio of the so-called “Moonlight Sonata”
Arragement for choir and organ op. 27,2 (1. Satz)
A sacrilege or a stroke of genius? The composer and music director Gottlob Benedict Bierey (1772–1840) orchestrated the first movement of the famous “Moonlight Sonata” by Beethoven (transposed to C minor) and added a four-part choral movement to it, which he underlaid with the text of the “Kyrie” from the Latin mass. The result is as astounding as it is harmonious!
The Bierey arrangement has been arranged by Andreas Gräsle for choir and organ, and is in C sharp minor, like the original piano part. A separate chorus score corresponding with the organ arrangement is available.
The work is also available from Carus in two additional versions: in the original version (Carus 28.009/00) and in a version for choir and piano (Carus 28.009/03).
| Original version | Arrangement for organ |
Coro SATB, 2 Fl, 2 Ob, 2 Clt, 2 Fg, 2 Cor, 2 Vl, Va, Vc, Cb | Coro SATB, Org |
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Composer
Ludwig van Beethoven
| 1770-1827Ludwig van Beethoven was without doubt one of the most influential composers in the history of music. His works formed the culmination of many genres – particularly instrumental – of Viennese classicism, and laid the foundation for the following decades. But Beethoven’s vocal works set standards too: the late Missa Solemnis is one of the most impressive choral works of its time; but his earlier Mass in C also opens up new worlds of expression for the liturgical text, and set the benchmark for the further development in the composition of the mass. And with the final chorus of the Ninth Symphony, the setting of Schiller’s Ode to Joy, Beethoven created one of the most frequently-performed and best known choral pieces of all, writing a timeless musical memorial to himself. Personal details
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Arranger
Gottlob Benedict Bierey
| 1772-1840Gottlob Benedict Bierey was born in Dresden on 25 July 1772. From 1807 to 1828, he was Kapellmeister at the Breslau Theatre, succeeding his predecessor Carl Maria von Weber in this position. He composed almost exclusively for the stage. In addition to his cantatas, choruses and songs, his operas and operettas were particularly popular during his lifetime. Personal details
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Arranger
Andreas Gräsle
| 1964Andreas Gräsle (harmonium) studied church music in Stuttgart (organ: Jon Laukvik) and took his concert diploma in organ with Daniel Roth in Saarbrücken, followed by early music studies with Andrea Marcon. He was a scholarship holder of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), and a prizewinner at the International Johann Pachelbel Competition in Nuremberg in 1991. From 1996 to 2003 he was choirmaster and organist at the Augustinuskirche in Schwäbisch Gmünd, and in April 2003 he became district choirmaster in Ditzingen. In addition, he is much in demand as chamber music partner, organist and harpsichordist. He has made several CDs of organ and chamber music, and his own improvisations and arrangements of children’s songs round off his musical activities. He has taught score reading at the Musikhochschule Stuttgart since 1997. Personal details
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