Benedict Jucker (1811-1876): Fantasy and Fugue on BACH

Fantasie und Fuge über das Thema BACH by Benedict Jucker. Jucker was born and died in Basel, Switzerland. While details of his life are difficult to find, he was an organ student of German organist and composer, Johann Christian Heinrich Rinck. Jucker succeeded Rinck as organist of the Basel Cathedral in 1846 at the age of 27. Jucker was a student of the so-called 'Organist School' in Basel, the predecessor of the 'General Music School'. It was indeed Johann Christian Heinrich Rinck who passed on the 'authentic' Bach tradition to the young Jucker, and during his time at Basel, Jucker was renowned for having done much to spread Bach's art in Basel. He remained as organist until his death in 1876 at aged 65. During his tenure, he oversaw the construction of a new organ in the Minster. He also ensured that the post of organist became de facto combined with the post of organ teacher at the Music School in Basel, a linkage now-a-days with a somewhat looser connection. The piece is being played using Hauptwerk Virtual Pipe Organ software and the sample set of the Martin Binder & Sohn, Regensburg (1909) organ of St. Hedwig of Silesia located in Chorzów, Poland. The organ provides an interesting example of the German Romantic style of organ building. 0:05 Fantasie 03:03 Fugue Thanks to ‪@grahamtwist‬ for his help finding more biographical info about Jucker!