Ten Voluntaries for the Organ or Harpsichord op. 2 - Berg, George 1730-1775 (London Johnson, 1759)
Easily confusable with John Bennett's 'Ten Voluntaries for the Organ or Harpsichord' (1758)
pensil note on frontmatter: "1759 BUC102 lists 3 copies"
pensil note on title page : "(c 1770)"
George Berg (1730–1775), was a London composer, organist, harpsichord teacher and amateur chemist of German origin who during a quite brief period (1755–70) was a highly productive composer, whose works ranged from operas in Italian to short glees and catches. At the heart of his oeuvre are his seven collections of keyboard music. His sonatinas for harpsichord were a by-product of his teaching, appearing in three volumes between 1759 and 1762. Technically fairly simple, these are lively, inventive and finely polished works showing an indebtedness towards Domenico Scarlatti.
These voluntaries are written in the English Baroque style with trumpet tunes, compelling adagios, French overtures, echoes, and interesting three-voice fugues. The melodies vary from step wise, to arpeggiated melodies, to trumpet tunes and derive from the harmonies. Sequences elongate the melodies, and other ornaments are trills, slides, turns and appoggiaturas.
More information on George Berg's life and music can be found in Michael Talbot's article 'George Berg: An Original Musical and Scientific Spirit in Georgian London', published on pages 3–27 of the Spring 2019 issue of The Musical Times (vol. 160, no.1946).
Keywords: 18th Century (1701-1800); Keyboard music; Organ music; Church music; London (United Kingdom)