Wolfgang Rübsam

Wolfgang Friedrich Rübsam (born October 16, 1946 in Gießen ) is a German organist , pianist , composer and music teacher .

Life

Wolfgang Rübsam received his first organ lessons from the Fulda cathedral organist Erich Ackermann. Organ studies with Dr. Robert T. Anderson ( Southern Methodist University , Dallas , Texas), Marie-Claire Alain and Helmut Walcha ( Frankfurt University of Music ). Rübsam was a prizewinner at the International Organ Competition in Fort Wayne (USA) and in 1973 was the first German organist to win the Grand Prix de Chartres in interpretation.

In 1974 he received a professorship for organ at Northwestern University in Evanston , Illinois (USA) and in 1981 was also appointed university organist at the Rockefeller Memorial Chapel of the University of Chicago , Illinois. Since 1997 Wolfgang Rübsam has been professor for artistic organ playing at the Saar University of Music in Saarbrücken. In addition, from 1998 to 2003 he was artist in residence and university organist at Lawrence University in Appleton , Wisconsin (USA).

Wolfgang Rübsam has recorded more than 130 sound carriers, including two recordings of all organ works by Johann Sebastian Bach , as well as complete recordings of the organ works by Dieterich Buxtehude , Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy , César Franck , Louis Vierne and Jehan Alain and recordings of works by Franz Liszt , Johann Pachelbel , Max Reger and Joseph Rheinberger . In addition, he recorded a large part of the piano works by Johann Sebastian Bach on Bösendorfer grand pianos . He is also the sound engineer and producer of the International Organ Encyclopedia at Naxos International. Rübsam is an internationally sought-after concert organist and juror at organ competitions.

Wolfgang Rübsam, who has been an American citizen since 2005, also works as a US-licensed barber (in addition to having passed his German master's examination in hairdressing in 2005) in his own barber shop in Valparaiso , Indiana (USA) and is also a composer for the music publishers Augsburg Fortress active in Minneapolis , Minnesota and Schott Music in Mainz .

Discography

• Jehan Alain: Complete Organ Works.
  • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded in 1973 on the Rieger organ of the Marienstatt Abbey Church. Bietigheim: Bayer Records, 1996. BR 100 198/99. 2 CDs.

• Johann Sebastian Bach: The Organ Work & The Art of Fugue.
  • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded in 1977 on the Metzler & Söhne organ in St. Nikolaus , Frauenfeld, Switzerland (CDs 1–12) and the Hockhois / Marcussen organ in the Freiburg Cathedral (CDs 13–16). Netherlands: Philips, 1993. 16 CDs.

• Johann Sebastian Bach: Preludes and Fugues.
  • Preludes and fugues in E minor BWV 548, A major BWV 536, A minor BWV 543 and C major BWV 545 (supplemented by the Largo from the 5th Trio Sonata in C major BWV 529).
    • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded in 1974 in Chartres Cathedral. Philips 6549950 (051007). 1 LP.

• Johann Sebastian Bach: English Suites No. 1-3.
  • Wolfgang Rübsam, piano. Naxos 8.553012. 1 CD.

• Johann Sebastian Bach: English Suites No. 4-6.
  • Wolfgang Rübsam, piano. Naxos 8.553013. 1 CD.

• Johann Sebastian Bach: French Suites No. 1 & 2, Italian Concerto, Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue.
  • Italian Concerto BWV 971; Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue BWV 903; 1. French Suite in D minor BWV 812; 2. French Suite in C minor BWV 813.
    • Wolfgang Rübsam, piano. Naxos 8.550709. 1 CD.

• Johann Sebastian Bach: French Suites No. 3-6.
  • Wolfgang Rübsam, piano. Naxos 8.550710. 1 CD.

• Johann Sebastian Bach: Excerpts from the piano booklet for Wilhelm Friedemann Bach; 5 small preludes BWV 539-543.
  • Wolfgang Rübsam, piano. Naxos 8.553097. 1 CD.

• Johann Sebastian Bach: Inventions and Symphonies.
  • Wolfgang Rübsam, piano. Naxos 8.550960. 1 CD.

• Johann Sebastian Bach: Partitas No. 1 & 2.
  • 1st Partita in B flat major BWV 825; 2nd Partita in C minor BWV 826; Prelude and Fughetta in G major BWV 902; Capriccio in B flat major BWV 992 (on the departure of his beloved brother).
    • Wolfgang Rübsam, piano. Naxos 8.550692. 1 CD.

• Johann Sebastian Bach: Partitas No. 3 & 4.
  • Wolfgang Rübsam, piano. Naxos 8.550693. 1 CD.

• Johann Sebastian Bach: Partitas No. 5 & 6.
  • Wolfgang Rübsam, piano. Recorded in May 1992 in Valparaiso, Indiana (USA). Naxos 8.550694. 1 CD.

• Johann Sebastian Bach: Toccatas BWV 910-916.
  • Wolfgang Rübsam, piano. Recorded in September 1989 in Heidelberg. Naxos 8.550708. 1 CD.

• Johann Sebastian Bach: Schübler chorales.
  • Chorales BWV 645–650; Fantasy & Fugue in C minor BWV 537; Toccata & Fugue in D minor BWV 538; Pièce d'Orgue in G major BWV 572; Prelude & Fugue in C major BWV 545.
    • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded in July 1988 on the Metzler organ in St. Michael, Eutin. Naxos 8.553150. 1 CD.

• Johann Sebastian Bach: Famous Organ Works.
  • Prelude & Fugue in E flat major BWV 552; Pastorella in F major BWV 590; Toccata in D minor BWV 565; Prelude and Fugue in D major BWV 532; Prelude and Fugue in E minor, BWV 548.
    • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded in August 1988 on the Flentrop Organ (Warner Concert Hall) of the Conservatory of Music, Oberlin College , Ohio (USA). Naxos 8.550184. 1 CD.

• Johann Sebastian Bach: Trio Sonatas No. 1-3.
  • Trio Sonatas BWV 525-527; Prelude and Fugue in A minor BWV 543.
    • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded in November 1989 on the Schnitger organ of the Martinikerk, Groningen (Netherlands). Naxos 8.550651. 1 CD.

• Johann Sebastian Bach: Trio Sonatas No. 4-6.
  • Trio Sonatas BWV 525-527; Prelude and Fugue in C major BWV 547.
    • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded in November 1989 on the Schnitger organ of the Martinikerk, Groningen (Netherlands). Naxos 8.550653. 1 CD.

• Johann Sebastian Bach: Preludes, Fantasies and Fugues BWV 536, 541, 542, 544 and 546.
  • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded in November 1989 on the Schnitger organ of the Martinikerk, Groningen (Netherlands). Naxos 8.550652. 1 CD.

• Johann Sebastian Bach: The Art of Fugue Vol. 1.
  • Contrapunctus I-XV.
    • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded in April 1992 on the Flentrop Organ at Duke Chapel , Duke University , Durham , North Carolina (USA). Naxos 8.550703. 1 CD.

• Johann Sebastian Bach: The Art of Fugue Vol. 2.
  • Contrapunctus XVI-XIX; Partita on “Greetings, kindly Jesus” BWV 768; Passacaglia in C minor BWV 582.
    • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded in April 1992 on the Flentrop Organ at Duke Chapel, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina (USA). Naxos 8.550704. 1 CD.

• Johann Sebastian Bach: Organ Transcriptions
  • Six concerts BWV 592–597; Trios BWV 585 & 586; Aria BWV 587.
    • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded in May 1993 on the Flentrop Organ at St. Mark's Cathedral, Seattle , Washington (USA). Naxos 8.550936. 1 CD.

• Johann Sebastian Bach: Organ choirs from the Leipzig manuscript Vol. 1.
  • Chorales BWV 651–658; Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C major BWV 564.
    • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded June 1993 on the Taylor and Boody Organ at Holy Cross College, Worcester, Massachusetts (USA). Naxos 8.550901. 1 CD.

• Johann Sebastian Bach: Organ choirs from the Leipzig manuscript Vol. 2.
  • Chorales BWV 659–668; Canonical changes to "Vom Himmel hoch" BWV 769.
    • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded June 1993 on the Taylor and Boody Organ at Holy Cross College, Worcester, Massachusetts (USA). Naxos 8.550927. 1 CD.

• Johann Sebastian Bach: Keyboard Exercise III Vol. 1.
  • Prelude BWV 552; Chorales BWV 669–681.
    • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded in July 1993 on the Silbermann organ in Freiberg Cathedral. Naxos 8.550930. 1 CD.

• Johann Sebastian Bach: Keyboard Exercise III Vol. 2.
  • Chorales BWV 682–689; Duets BWV 802-805; Fugue BWV 552.
    • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded in July 1993 on the Silbermann organ in Freiberg Cathedral. Naxos 8.550930. 1 CD.

• Johann Sebastian Bach: The Organ Book Vol. 1.
  • Chorales BWV 599–617; Preludes and Fugues BWV 531 & 534; Prelude BWV 568; Fantasia BWV 570; Fugue BWV 579.
    • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded in January 1994 on the Flentrop Organ at Duke Chapel, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina (USA). Naxos 8.553031. 1 CD.

• Johann Sebastian Bach: The Organ Book Vol. 2.
  • Chorales BWV 618–644; Fantasia BWV 562; Prelude and Fugue BWV 539.
    • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded in January 1994 on the Flentrop Organ at Duke Chapel, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina (USA). Naxos 8.553032. 1 CD.

• Johann Sebastian Bach: Organ Works.
  • Preludes and Fugues BWV 535 & 550; Partita on “O God, you pious God” BWV 767; Trio in G minor BWV 584; Fantasia super “I want to give you valet” BWV 736; Canzona in D minor BWV 588; Allabreve in D major BWV 589.
    • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded January 1994 on the Taylor and Boody organ at Holy Cross College, Worcester, Massachusetts (USA). Naxos 8.553033. 1 CD.

• Johann Sebastian Bach: Kirnberger Choirs and Other Organ Works Vol. 1.
  • Chorales BWV 690–701; Preludes and Fugues BWV 549 & 566; Partita on "Christ, who is the bright day" BWV 766; Fugue BWV 574.
    • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Naxos 8.553134. 1 CD.

• Johann Sebastian Bach: Kirnberger chorales and other organ works Vol. 2.
  • Chorales BWV 702–713; Toccata & Fugue in F major BWV 540; Fugen BWV 576 & 578; Partita on “Oh, what should I do as a sinner?” BWV 770.
    • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Naxos 8.553135. 1 CD.

• Dietrich Buxtehude: The organ work.
  • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded in the Cathédrale St. Martin, Colmar, and the Swiss Metzler organs of the Catholic Church in Zurzach, the Catholic Stadtkirche Frauenfeld, and the Jesuit Church in Lucerne. Germany: Bellaphon Records, 1982–1984. 9 CDs.

• Dietrich Buxtehude: Organ Works Vol. 3.
  • Prelude & Fugue BuxWV 146; Ciacona BuxWV159; Te Deum laudamus BuxWV 218; Passacaglia BuxWV 161; Prelude BuxWV 142; Chorales BuxWV 180, 182–186.
    • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded in March 2002 on the John Brombaugh Organ of the Central Lutheran Church, Eugene, Oregon (USA). Naxos 8.555991. 1 CD.

• François Couperin: Mass solemnelle à l'usage des paroisses.
  • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded on the Callinet organ at St. Martin in Masevaux. Germany: Bellaphon Records, 1983. 1 LP.

• César Franck: Complete Organ Works.
  • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded in February 1983 at Cathédrale St. Croix, Orléans. Bietigheim: Bayer Records, 1990. BR 100 091-93. 3 CDs.

• Jean Adam Guilain: Organ Suites.
  • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded on the Rieger organ of the Marienstatt Abbey Church. Neckargemünd: Da Camera, 1974. DaCa 93 263. 1 LP.

• Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Complete Organ Works.
  • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded in the summer of 1982 on the Silbermann organ in Saint Pierre-le-Jeune, Strasbourg and the Metzler organ in the Jesuit church in Lucerne. Düsseldorf: Schwann Musica Mundi, 1983. 3 LPs.

• Olivier Messiaen: La Nativité du Seigneur.
  • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded in February 1983 at the Cathédrale St. Croix in Orléans. Bietigheim: Bayer Records, 1988. BR 100 004. 1 CD.

• Johann Pachelbel: Organ Works Vol. 1.
  • Prelude in d; Fantasy in g; Toccatas in C, C, c, e and g; Ricercare in c and f sharp; Joints in C, D and d; Come, God Creator, Holy Spirit; God the Father live with us; Ciaconas in d and f; 3 Christmas chorale preludes.
    • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded in September 1998 in the former monastery church of St. Peter and Paul, Weißenau. Naxos 8.554380. 1 CD.

• Max Reger: Organ Works.
  • Two chorale fantasies op. 40; Choral fantasy about "Wachet auf" op. 52 No. 2.
    • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded on the Rieger organ of the Marienstatt Abbey Church. Neckargemünd: Da Camera, 1976. 1 LP.

• Max Reger: Organ Works.
  • Monologues op. 63 (excerpts), 52 easily executable chorales to the most common evangelical chorales op. 67 (excerpts).
    • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded on the Rieger organ of the Marienstatt Abbey Church. Neckargemünd: Da Camera, 1978. 1 LP.

• Max Reger on his 125th birthday.
  • Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Mozart op. 132a for two pianos; Fantasy and Fugue on BACH op. 46; Choral fantasy about "Hallelujah! God to praise" op. 52 No. 3.
    • Wolfgang Rübsam (op. 52) and Andreas Rothkopf (op. 46), pianos and organ. Recorded in September 1998 in Fulda Cathedral (op. 46 & 52) and the Saar College of Music in Saarbrücken (op.132a). Mainz: Wergo, 1998.

• Joseph Rheinberger: Organ Works Vol. 1.
  • 1st Sonata in C minor, Op. 28; 2nd Sonata in A flat major op. 65; 3rd Sonata in G major op. 88; 4th Sonata in A minor, Op. 98.
    • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded in June 1998 on the Sauer / Rieger organ in Fulda Cathedral . Naxos 8.554212. 1 CD.

• Joseph Rheinberger: Organ Works Vol. 2.
  • 5th Sonata in F sharp minor op. 111; 6th Sonata in E flat minor op. 119; 7th Sonata in F minor, Op. 127.
    • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded in June 1998 on the Sauer / Rieger organ in Fulda Cathedral. Naxos 8.554213. 1 CD.

• Joseph Rheinberger: Organ Works Vol. 3.
  • 8th Sonata in E minor, Op. 132; 9th Sonata in B flat minor op. 142; Ten trios op.49.
    • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded on the Sauer / Rieger organ in Fulda Cathedral. Naxos 8.554549. 1 CD.

• Joseph Rheinberger: Organ Works Vol. 4.
  • 10th Sonata in B minor, Op. 146; 11th Sonata in D minor op.148; Trios op. 189 No. 1–5.
    • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded on the Sauer / Rieger organ in Fulda Cathedral. Naxos 8.554809. 1 CD.

• Joseph Rheinberger: Organ Works Vol. 5.
  • 12th Sonata in D flat major, Op. 154; 13th Sonata in E flat major, Op. 161; Trios op. 189 No. 6–12.
    • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded in January 2002 on the Sauer / Rieger organ in Fulda Cathedral. Naxos 8.557184. 1 CD.

• Joseph Rheinberger: Organ Works Vol. 6.
  • 14th Sonata in C major op. 165; 15th Sonata in D major op.168; 16. Sonata in G sharp minor, Op. 175.
    • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded in April 2007 on the Sauer / Rieger organ in Fulda Cathedral. Naxos 8.570313. 1 CD.

• Joseph Rheinberger: Organ Works Vol. 7.
  • 17th Sonata in B major op. 181 (Fantasy Sonata); 18th Sonata in A major op.188; Prelude and Fugue in D minor JWV 10; Monologues op. 162 No. 1–6.
    • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded in May 2007 on the Sauer / Rieger organ in Fulda Cathedral. Naxos 8.570314. 1 CD.

• Joseph Rheinberger: Organ Works Vol. 8.
  • 19th Sonata in G minor, Op. 193; 20th Sonata in F major op. 196 ("Zur Friedensfeier"); Prelude and Fugue in C minor JWV 16.
    • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded in May 2007 on the Sauer / Rieger organ in Fulda Cathedral. Naxos 8.570315. 1 CD.

• Georg Philipp Telemann: Selected organ works.
  • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. DC Gloger organ in St. Nikolai, Cadenberge. Neckargemünd: Da Camera, 1974. 1 LP.

• Louis Vierne: Pièces de Fantaisie.
  • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded in September 1983 in St. François-de-Sales in Lyon. Bietigheim: Bayer Records, 1989. 2 CDs.

• Louis Vierne: Complete Organ Works Vol. 1 & 2.
  • Symphonies No. 1–3, Pièces en style libre op. 31 (No. 1–6), Triptyque op. 58.
    • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded 1992–1993 in St. François-de-Sales, Lyon, and St. Antoine-des-Quinze-Vingts, Paris. Saarbrücken: IFO Records, 1999. 2 CDs.

• Louis Vierne: Complete Organ Works.
  • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded in St. François-de-Sales, Lyon, St. Antoine-des-Quinze-Vingts, Paris, and in the Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, University of Chicago. Saarbrücken: IFO Records, 2009 (in preparation). 8 CDs.

• Johann Gottfried Walther: 15 baroque concerts for organ by various masters of the German and Italian schools.
  • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded in 1982 in Martinsmünster (Colmar) . Cologne: Deutsche Harmonia Mundi, 1982. 3 LPs.

• Charles-Marie Widor: Symphony No. 5 op.42.
  • & Andante sostenuto from the Symphonie Gothique op.70.
    • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded in February 1983 at the Cathédrale St. Croix in Orléans. Signum, 1983. 1 LP.

• The CB Fisk Organ, Opus 101, at Southern Methodist University.
  • Works by Grigny (Pange lingua), Tournemire (Paraphrase-Carillon), Zwillich (Prelude), Buxtehude (Prelude BuxWV 151), Bach (Trio Sonata BWV 530) and Reger ("Wachet auf" op. 52 No. 2).
    • Robert T. Anderson (Grigny, Tournemire, Zwillich) and Wolfgang Rübsam (Buxtehude, Bach, Reger), organ. Recorded in June 1994 (Anderson) and July 1994 (Rübsam) on the CB Fisk organ in the Caruth Auditorium of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Valparaiso, IN: RMC Classics, 1994. 1 CD.

• Orchestral Dreams.
  • Works by Percy Whitlock (Sonata in C minor) and Louis Vierne (Adagio from the 6th Symphony op. 59; Marche triomphale op. 46).
    • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded in 1992 (Vierne) and 1997 (Whitlock) at Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, University of Chicago. Saarbrücken: IFO Records, 2003. 1 CD.

• Romantic organ works.
  • Works by Edward Elgar (Sonata op. 28), Max Reger ("Do not punish me", op. 40 No. 2), Charles-Marie Widor (Toccata from the 5th symphony) and Franz Liszt (Ad nos).
    • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded November 1988 at Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, University of Chicago. Bietigheim: Bayer Records, 1988. BR 100 049. 1 CD.

• Soli Deo Gloria: The Reddel Memorial Organ.
  • Works by Marchand, Bach, Scheidemann, Buxtehude, Widor and Dupré.
    • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded in 1996 at the Chapel of the Resurrection, Valparaiso University, Indiana. Valparaiso, IN: VUCA Media, 1999. 1 CD.

• Wolfgang Rübsam live in concert.
  • Works by Louis Vierne, Max Reger ("Wachet auf" op. 52 No. 2), Julius Reubke (94th Psalm) and Jehan Alain (Trois Danses).
    • Wolfgang Rübsam, organ. Recorded in February 2003 on the Stahlhut / Jann organ at St. Martin in Dudelange , Luxembourg. Saarbrücken: IFO Records, 2003. 1 CD.

literature

• Wolfram Adolph : "On the primacy of hearing. Interview with Wolfgang Rübsam." In: Organ - Journal für die Orgel 1 (2003), pp. 26–32.
• Christian Ekowski: "The organ bank's Glenn Gould . Wolfgang Rübsam - border crosser between worlds." In: Organ - Journal für die Orgel 1 (2003), pp. 21–24.
• Alain Pâris (ed.): Lexicon of the interpreters of classical music in the 20th century . Translated and edited by Rudolf Kimmig. Kassel: Bärenreiter, 1992.
• Wolfgang Rübsam: "On the method of organ practice: On the hardship, the necessity and the hidden joys of a tiresome duty." In: Organ - Journal für die Orgel 3 (2000), pp. 24-29.
• Wolfgang Rübsam: " Intelligent fingerings: practical advice on the economy of organ practice." In: Organ - Journal für die Orgel 1 (2007), pp. 28–36.
• Wolfgang Rübsam: "Some Aspects of Smart Organ Fingerings or" the best cheater tricks in town. "In: The Diapason 98 (June 2007), pp. 20-21.

Web links

• Homepage of Wolfgang Rübsam: https://www.wolfgangrubsam.com/
• CV on the homepage of Naxos International
• CV on Bach Cantatas website
• RMC Classical Music, Valparaiso, Indiana (USA)
• Wolfgang Rübsam: 7 golden rules of organ practice , at www.trierer-orgelpunkt.de
• Wolfgang Rübsam: Aspects of "clever" fingering , on www.trierer-orgelpunkt.de (translation from English by Dr. Martin Welzel)