This gorgeous music is simple in form and short in length ... but it's nevertheless an absolute delight. Originally written for harpsichord, it transfers beautifully to the organ. In this arrangement, it draws at different times on the quieter registers of all three (uncoupled) keyboards. In particular, it makes stunning use of the higher register of the fabulous Clarabella stop: notably in the sections starting at 0:49 and from 1:50 through to the end. This stop is one of my absolute favourite sounds on this organ.

This Chaconne comes from 'Musikalischer Parnassus', a set of nine pieces composed in 1738, each named after one of the nine Muses of Greek mythology. Melpomene is the Muse of Tragedy which explains the extremely sombre tone of this music. Her name means 'to sing' or 'the one that is melodious'. This was clearly an inspiration to Our Man Fischer in creating such a wonderfully atmospheric piece of music, infused to the brim with a heady cocktail of tragedy and beauty.

Played by Paul Broadhurst on the historic Father Willis organ of Christ Church, Birkenhead, UK.

Recorded 28/06/2024

Thumbnail: Tragedy Mask - detail from the Statue of Melpomene in The Louvre Museum, Paris. It is, of course, Melomene who's holding the mask.

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