Johann Ludwig Krebs

Krebs: Keyboard Works Volume 6

~ Andrew Benson-Wilson

Johann Ludwig Krebs (1713-1780)
Keyboard Works, Volume 6
Steven Devine, harpsichord
Resonus Classics RES10376 (70’50)


Sechs Preambulis (Vier Pieces, Part 1, 1740)
Suite No. 5 in F Major, (Clavier-Übung, Part IV, 1746) Krebs-WV 811
Suite in A Minor ‘nach dem heutigen Gusto’ (Vier Pieces, Part 2, 1741) Krebs-WV 819

The twice-extended series of recordings of the complete harpsichord works of Johann Ludwig Krebs (Bach’s ‘favourite pupil’) has reached what now seems to be its conclusion with the release of the sixth and (we are, perhaps rashly, promised) the final volume. This disc focuses on the first two parts of the Krebs collection ‘Vier Pieces’, dating from 1740/41. Krebs had left the Leipzig Bach circle in 1737 to become organist at the Marienkirche in Zwickau. The organ was in poor condition, and Krebs’ efforts to commission a new Silbermann failed. He stayed until 1744 by which time he had married and had his first child. He also wrote a lot of music during that time, including the Vier Pieces.

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Krebs: Keyboard Works Volume 3 & 4

~ Andrew Benson-Wilson

Johann Ludwig Krebs (1713 – 1780)
Keyboard Works Volume 3 & 4
Steven Devine, harpsichord
Resonus Classics RES10329 (77’30) & RES10344 (63’50)


Steven Devine continues his crustation-inspired (Krebs = crayfish or crab) series of recordings of Krebs’ keyboard works with Volumes 3 and 4. They follow the two earlier recordings reviewed here (Volume 1) and here (Volume 2). I understand there will now be two further CDs after the originally planned series of four, an essential and welcome addition needed to cover Krebs’ known harpsichord works. I should repeat the warning I gave in earlier reviews of this series that it only represents a part of Krebs’ keyboard music. The programme note essay gives the far more accurate ’Works for Harpsichord’ title. The works for organ fill another 7 full-sized CDs. Many of Krebs’ organ compositions show a direct Bach influence, often to a specific piece that Krebs then expands, often to enormous length and complexity. That is far less apparent in the harpsichord works on this recording, although the Bach-inspired moments are fairly easy to spot.

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Krebs: Keyboard Works Vol 1

~ Andrew Benson-Wilson

Johann Ludwig Krebs: Keyboard Works Vol 1
Steven Devine, harpsichord
Resonus Classics RES10287. 72’0)

Partita in A minor, Krebs-WV 825
Fugues in C major, E major, F major, F minor, G major, and A minor, Krebs-WV 843/848
Concerto in G major “in Italiänischen Gusto”, Krebs-WV 821

Johann Ludwig Krebs (1713-1780) is another of those overlooked composers, despite there being a large amount of surviving music. He is probably best known as Bach’s favourite organ pupil, and the focus (reflected in the CD cover photo) of Bach’s comment Er ist der einzige Krebs in meinem Bache – “He is the only crayfish (Krebs) in my brook (Bach)”, a reference to Krebs’ ability as an organist, rather than being the only Krebs pupil as Bach also taught Krebs’ father. His music falls into a slightly awkward gap between the High Baroque style of late Bach and the new Galant and Classical styles that rendered much of ‘Old Bach’s’ music out of date.

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