Dresden's church music in the 19th century presents a highly varied picture. Next to the Catholic tradition of the court and the court chapel, the principal Evangelical churches (Frauenkirche, Kreuzkirche and Sophienkirche) also played an important role. It was not easy for editor Andreas Sieling to choose the composers for the "Dresden Organ Music," many of whom are forgotten today, but who were known in their own time beyond the borders of Dresden both as composers and performers. Ultimately, the collection came to encompass a little more than one century, ranging from Johann Gottlob Schneider (1789-1864), who became the organist of the Dresden court chapel in 1825, to Paul Otto Krause (1880-1946), a student of Sigfrid Karg-Elert. In addition to free compositions, the book also contains chorale-related pieces that were transposed into the keys used in the "Evangelisches Gesangbuch" whenever this was deemed helpful. Particularly charming are Christmastime pieces such as Max Birn's Fantasy on "Kommet ihr Hirten," for example. The collection thus pays tribute to Dresden as a major organ center in the 19th century after Leipzig (EB 8603) and Berlin (EB 8613) as well as the Netherlands and Belgium (EB 8621).

Alfred Grundmann Vom Himmel hoch
Carl August Fischer Adagio
Christian Gottlob Höpner Adagio
Christian Gottlob Höpner Wer nur den lieben Gott laesst walten
Gustav Merkel Con moto
Gustav Merkel Praeludium und Fuge h-moll
Gustav Merkel Schmuecke dich, o liebe Seele
Gustav Merkel Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme
Johann Gottlob Schneider Elevation
Johann Gottlob Schneider Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan
Max Birn Weihnachts-Fantasie (Kommet, ihr Hirten)
Oskar Wermann Praeludium und Fuge über die Töne des Glockengelaeutes der Kreuzkirche zu Dresden
Oskar Wermann Weihnachts-Pastorale
Paul Geist Allegretto
Paul Geist Con fuoco
Paul Krause Basso ostinato
Paul Krause Postludiale Skizze