Fleeing and Chasing. Christian Müller Organ and a Tombstone Engraving, Great or Jacobin Church, Leeuwarden, Fryslân, The Netherlands
The Jacobin Church of Leeuwarden was built in the thirteenth century for the Dominican Order. The wonderful baroque organ was constructed 1724-1727 by Christian Müller (1690-1763) and restored 1972-1977. As I was admiring it my eye caught the engraving of a tombstone just about at the organ's foot. It's on the grave of one Thewis Pietersz. who died in 1608 and his wife, Anna Tyaerdt who predeceased him in 1602.
The inset engraving shows us the Skeleton of Death with bow and arrow chasing a robust fighter with sword and shield. Note the central pot of flowers, I think: lilies. Obviously I immediately thought of the musical fugues - the word derived from the Latin for flight and chase - which down through the centuries must have sounded from that organ.
Fleeing and Chasing. Christian Müller Organ and a Tombstone Engraving, Great or Jacobin Church, Leeuwarden, Fryslân, The Netherlands
The Jacobin Church of Leeuwarden was built in the thirteenth century for the Dominican Order. The wonderful baroque organ was constructed 1724-1727 by Christian Müller (1690-1763) and restored 1972-1977. As I was admiring it my eye caught the engraving of a tombstone just about at the organ's foot. It's on the grave of one Thewis Pietersz. who died in 1608 and his wife, Anna Tyaerdt who predeceased him in 1602.
The inset engraving shows us the Skeleton of Death with bow and arrow chasing a robust fighter with sword and shield. Note the central pot of flowers, I think: lilies. Obviously I immediately thought of the musical fugues - the word derived from the Latin for flight and chase - which down through the centuries must have sounded from that organ.