Here you will find "Organ Improvisations on Passion, Easter and Pentecost" (1977-1992), Part 1, by Franz Lehrndorfer.

Here you will find "Organ Improvisations on Passion, Easter and Pentecost" (1977-1992), Part 2, by Franz Lehrndorfer.

Here you will find "Organ Improvisations on Hymns to Mary" by Franz Lehrndorfer. 

Here you will find the "Inaugural Concert on the new Munich Cathedral Organ 1994" by Franz Lehrndorfer.

Volume 3 to Volume 4 from the series "Franz Lehrndorfer - LIVE" include Organ Improvisations for Advent and Christmas,
i. a. "O du fröhliche", "In dulci jubilo" or "Macht hoch die Tür".

For more information, see

• Vol. 3: Franz Lehrndorfer - LIVE: Organ Improvisations for Advent and Christmas (1985-1986)
• Vol. 4: Franz Lehrndorfer - LIVE: Organ Improvisations for Advent and Christmas (1987-1989)

Volume 5 to Volume 7 from the series "Franz Lehrndorfer - LIVE" include Organ Improvisations on Praise and Thanksgiving, Trust and Supplication,
i. a. "Lobe den Herren", "Die güldne Sonne" or "Großer Gott, wir loben dich".

For more information, see

• Vol. 5: Franz Lehrndorfer - LIVE: Organ Improvisations on Praise and Thanksgiving, Trust and Supplication (1967-1976)
• Vol. 6: Franz Lehrndorfer - LIVE: Organ Improvisations on Praise and Thanksgiving, Trust and Supplication (1978-1985)
• Vol. 7: Franz Lehrndorfer - LIVE: Organ Improvisations on Praise and Thanksgiving, Trust and Supplication (1986-1989)

Volume 8 from the series "Franz Lehrndorfer - LIVE" includes Organ Improvisations "Buoyant Works from Concerts",
i. a. "Joli tambour", "Der Mond ist aufgegangen" or "Ein Männlein steht im Walde".

For more information, see

• Vol. 8: Franz Lehrndorfer - LIVE: Organ Improvisations "Buoyant Works from Concerts"​

Volume 9 from the series "Franz Lehrndorfer - LIVE" includes Organ Works of Max Reger,
i. a. "Fantasy and Fugue on B-A-C-H op. 46" or "Symphonic Fantasy and Fugue op. 57".

For more information, see

• Vol. 9: Franz Lehrndorfer - LIVE: Organ Works of Max Reger (1966)​

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Volume 10 from the series "Franz Lehrndorfer - LIVE" includes an Organ Concert of 1987,
i. a. "Toccata and Fugue d minor, BWV 565" of Johann Sebastian Bach or "Concerto D major" of Antonio Vivaldi.

For more information, see

• Vol. 10: Franz Lehrndorfer - LIVE: Organ Concert (1987)

Volume 11 and Volume 12 from the series "Franz Lehrndorfer - LIVE" include Organ Improvisations on Passion, Easter and Pentecost,
i. a. Improvisations on "O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden", "Christ ist erstanden" or "Veni, creator Spiritus".

​For more information, see

• Vol. 11: Franz Lehrndorfer - LIVE: Organ Improvisations on Passion, Easter and Pentecost, Part 1
• Vol. 12: Franz Lehrndorfer - LIVE: Organ Improvisations on Passion, Easter and Pentecost, Part 2

Volume 13 from the series "Franz Lehrndorfer - LIVE" includes Organ Improvisations on Hymns to Mary,
i. a. "Wunderschön prächtige", "Maria Himmelskönigin" or "Gruß dir, du Heilige".

​For more information, see

• Vol. 13: Franz Lehrndorfer - LIVE: Organ Improvisations on Hymns to Mary

Volume 14 from the series "Franz Lehrndorfer - LIVE" includes the Inaugural Concert on the new Munich Cathedral Organ 1994,
i. a. "Prelude and Fugue on B-A-C-H" of Franz Liszt, "Benedictus op. 59/9" of Max Reger or an "Improvisation on 'Sagt an, wer ist doch diese'" of Franz Lehrndorfer.

​For more information, see

• Vol. 14: Franz Lehrndorfer - LIVE: Inaugural Concert (1994)

The "Improvisations on Christmas Carols" were recorded in 1969 on the organ in the concert hall of the University for Music (now: University of Music and Performing Arts) in Munich.

This recording does not belong to the usual scheme of Christmas recordings. Even without the usual candlelight and bell romanticism, Christmas songs can have a message, for the musical layman as well as for the professional musician - this compact disc wants to say something to both. 

Lehrndorfer is one of the few artists on the side of so-called "serious music" who carry on centuries-old traditions of improvisation. With his extraordinary degree of musicality and outstanding technique, he develops a distinctive style of improvisation in which every musical thought, as it arises from the moment, can unfold freely and lead to a musical unity.

Lehrndorfer chooses above all the technique of variation, i. e. the melody of the individual songs is framed by counter-voices, also changed and played around itself, or finally remains (similar to jazz) only the basis of a freer development.

The so often kitschy "O du fröhliche" receives here a more joyful than emotional interpretation; the imperceptible coupling with "Silent Night" in the third variation has its special charm. In "Kommet ihr Hirten", the coming of the shepherds is expressed through sweeping running passages full of playful and musical virtuosity. Even such contemplative variations as the one on "Zu Bethlehem geboren" do not slip into the usual cliché; freely added counterpointing voices provide a strong counterweight.

The large-scale improvisation on "Vom Himmel hoch" begins with a harmonically rich introduction and initially processes only the first semitone step of the song melody. From this, the first variation gradually develops with the theme in the upper voice. Gradually more agitated variations lead to the final fugue, which finds its climax and conclusion in a canon led between soprano and bass.

Ulrich Kraus

The recordings for this CD were made in 1979 on the organ of the Munich Frauenkirche.

The "Organ Music from the Munich Cathedral" was awarded the "German Record Prize" of the German Phono Academy.