The First Organ Concertos Matthew Dirst & Ars Lyrica Houston

• George Frideric Handel (1685 - 1759): Il trionfo del tempo e del disinganno, HWV 46a:
• 1 Il trionfo del tempo e del disinganno, HWV 46a: I. Sonata 02:51
• 2 Il trionfo del tempo e del disinganno, HWV 46a: II. Adagio 01:17
• 3 Il trionfo del tempo e del disinganno, HWV 46a: III. Allegro ma non troppo 01:27
• Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750): Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, BWV 1052:
• 4 Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, BWV 1052: I. Allegro 08:11
• 5 Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, BWV 1052: II. Adagio 05:53
• 6 Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, BWV 1052: III. Allegro 08:02
• Keyboard Concerto in G Minor, BWV 1058:
• 7 Keyboard Concerto in G Minor, BWV 1058: I. Allegro 04:00
• 8 Keyboard Concerto in G Minor, BWV 1058: II. Andante 05:24
• 9 Keyboard Concerto in G Minor, BWV 1058: III. Allegro assai 04:19
• Harpsichord Concerto in E Major, BWV 1053:
• 10 Harpsichord Concerto in E Major, BWV 1053: I. Allegro 08:28
• 11 Harpsichord Concerto in E Major, BWV 1053: II. Siciliano 05:35
• 12 Harpsichord Concerto in E Major, BWV 1053: III. Allegro 07:20
• Total Runtime 01:02:47

Info for The First Organ Concertos

What were the first organ concertos? The concerto style can first be heard in interior movements of Handel’s oratorio Il trionfo del Temp e del Disinganno (1707). In Bach’s case it has been assumed that the concerto evolved from instrumental sinfonias from his cantatas. Dirst, however, demonstrates another possibility- concerts in Dresden (1725) before the cantata sinfonias were written. Prepared from the earliest sources, Dirst and Ars Lyrica reconstruct the musical soundscape of this important event, which ultimately spawned Bach’s most popular harpsichord concerto. Noted for his stylish playing of Baroque music in particular, praise for Matthew Dirst and Ars Lyrica include “an extremely taut and accurate traversal” (The New York Sun), “a technically dazzling, deeply moving performance” (Houston Chronicle), “of irresistible rhythmic impulse and dazzling virtuosity.” (Dallas Morning News)

Matthew Dirst, organ
Ars Lyrica Houston

Matthew Dirst
is the first American to win major international prizes in both organ and harpsichord, including first prize at the American Guild of Organists Young Artist Competition (1990) and second prize at the Warsaw International Harpsichord Competition (1993). In addition to his work with Ars Lyrica, Matthew also serves as Associate Professor of Music at the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music and organist at St Philip Presbyterian Church. His degrees include a PhD in musicology from Stanford University and the prix de virtuosité in both organ and harpsichord from the Conservatoire National de Reuil-Malmaison, where he spent two years as a Fulbright scholar. Noted for his stylish playing of Baroque music in particular, his recent performances of Bach’s “Goldberg Variations” were praised as “an extremely taut and accurate traversal” (The New York Sun), “a technically dazzling, deeply moving performance” (Houston Chronicle), “of irresistible rhythmic impulse [and] dazzling virtuosity” (Dallas Morning News). His most recent recording, Bach Organ Music for the Christmas Season, has just been released on the Centaur label and is available for purchase at all Ars Lyrica performances.

Booklet for The First Organ Concertos