Prelude in Eb, BWV 552 by Johann Sebastian Bach (1675-1750)
Konzertfantasie über Haydns Kaiserlied by Max Birn (1863–1926)
Variationen über "Ein Männleinsteht im Walde” by Franz Lehrndorfer (1928-2013)
Lord of the Rings Howard Shore (b. 1946)
Transcription: Hintermüller
American Rhapsody by Pietro Yon (1886-1943)
Program Notes
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
Prelude in E-flat Major, BWV 552
The monumental Prelude in E-flat Major opens the third volume of Bach’s Clavierübung, published in 1739. Often called the "St. Anne" Prelude because it pairs with a fugue that shares a theme resembling the English hymn tune of the same name, this work stands as one of the grandest compositions in the organ repertoire. The Prelude unfolds in a majestic five-part structure, alternating between brilliant passages for full organ and more intimate, trio-like episodes. Its grand opening chords in the French Overture style immediately establish the regal character of the piece, while the contrasting inner sections reveal Bach’s unparalleled mastery of counterpoint and form.
Max Birn (1863–1926)
Konzertfantasie über Haydns Kaiserlied
Max Birn was a German organist and composer active in Berlin, where he served as organist at the Sophienkirche in Dresden. His Concert Fantasy on Haydn’s Emperor’s Hymn takes the beloved melody composed by Joseph Haydn in 1797 as the Austrian imperial anthem—later adopted as the German national anthem—and transforms it into a virtuosic showpiece for organ. Through a series of increasingly elaborate variations and free fantasia passages, Birn explores the full tonal and dynamic possibilities of the instrument while treating Haydn’s dignified theme with both reverence and imaginative flair. The work exemplifies the late-Romantic German tradition of the concert paraphrase, designed to thrill audiences in the great concert halls of the era.
Franz Lehrndorfer (1928–2013)
Variationen über "Ein Männlein steht im Walde"
Franz Lehrndorfer served for over four decades as cathedral organist at the Frauenkirche in Munich, where he became one of the most celebrated improvisers and performers in Germany. His Variations on "Ein Männlein steht im Walde" take the familiar German children’s song—a riddle about a rosehip in the forest—and subject it to a dazzling series of transformations. This piece was originally improvised, which means the composer did not prepare it. Lehrndorfer’s characteristic wit and brilliance shine through as the simple tune passes through contrasting moods and styles, from playful and tender to grandly symphonic. This charming work demonstrates that serious compositional craft and a sense of humor are by no means mutually exclusive.
Howard Shore (*1946)
The Lord of the Rings — Transcription for Organ by Christoph Hintermüller
Howard Shore’s Academy Award-winning score for Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy is widely regarded as one of the finest achievements in film music. Drawing on leitmotifs that evoke the diverse peoples and landscapes of Middle-earth, Shore created a musical world of extraordinary depth and emotional power. This organ transcription by Christoph Hintermüller distills key themes from the trilogy into an idiomatic concert piece for the instrument. The organ’s vast palette of colors—from ethereal string stops evoking the Shire to thunderous reeds conjuring the battles of Helm’s Deep—proves a remarkably fitting medium for Shore’s epic musical canvas.
Pietro A. Yon (1886–1943)
American Rhapsody
Born in Settimo Vittone, Italy, Pietro Alessandro Yon studied at the conservatories of Milan and Turin before emigrating to the United States in 1907, where he became organist at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. A virtuoso performer and prolific composer, Yon became one of the most prominent figures in American organ culture during the first half of the twentieth century. His American Rhapsody is a brilliant concert work that weaves together popular American melodies and patriotic tunes into a grand symphonic tapestry. With its colorful registrations, sweeping romantic gestures, and infectious energy, the piece celebrates Yon’s adopted homeland with both affection and exuberance, bringing today’s program to a rousing conclusion.
Biography of Christoph Hintermüller
Christoph Hintermüller, born in Unna, Germany, discovered his passion for keyboard and organ music during elementary school, teaching himself both instruments from an early age. After earning his Abitur at the Mallinckrodt-Gymnasium in Dortmund. As accompanist of the Mallinckrodt-Gymnasium school choir, he performed at major European venues, including Berlin Cathedral, Notre-Dame de Paris, and the Cathedral of Palma de Mallorca.
In 2013, Hintermüller began his church music studies at the Mainz University of Music under Cathedral Organist Prof. Daniel Beckmann, while simultaneously serving as church musician at St. Pankratius in Mainz-Hechtsheim. From 2016 to 2017, a Rotary International scholarship enabled him to study with Prof. Dr. Christoph Bull at UCLA. He went on to earn a Master's degree in Organ Performance from the University of North Texas under Prof. Dr. Jesse Eschbach, where he was appointed Teaching Fellow and Principal Organist of Northridge Presbyterian Church in Dallas. His honors include the 2018 AGO Student Commissioning Project with composer Mark Vaughn and the 2019 E. Power Biggs
From 2020 to 2023, he served as music director in Cologne, conducting large-scale works such as Dan Forrest's Requiem for the Living and LUX, as well as Mozart's Requiem, with ensembles of up to 70 performers. After receiving the O-1B visa for artists of extraordinary ability, he was appointed Director of Worship and Music at St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church in Austin, Texas. He is currently pursuing a DMA in Church Music at Baylor University with Dr. Jens Korndörfer.