1996 Rieger organ at Fuldaer Dom, Fulda, Germany

From the Wolf’s Den

He lives in the countryside just down the road from Valparaiso University, he’s got a recording studio and a barber shop in the barn out back, and spends considerable time teaching in Saarebruecken, Germany, and Appleton, Wisconsin. And when he plays, his imagination works overtime. We visit with the ever stimulating and always iconoclastic Wolfgang Rübsam to understand why amidst all the other distractions organ music continues to feed his soul and, through him, ours.

As a former pilot, a barber, recording engineer, teacher, and recitalist, he’s totally fearless, and willing even to risk a Bach Trio Sonata in concert. Wolfgang Rübsam reflects on his career and accomplishments, and shares some great and timeless music, From the Wolf’s Den, this week on Pipedreams.

Program Broadcast dates:

• September 10, 2001

Links and Resources:

• Lawrence University
• University of Music and Theatre, Saarland/Germany
• Naxos Organ Encyclopedia

Music played in the program

DIETERICH BUXTEHUDE: Praeludium in A, BuxWV 151 –Wolfgang Rübsam (1993 C.B. Fisk/Caruth Auditorium, SMU, Dallas, TX) RMC Classics CD-1994

BASSANO (transcribed by Heinrich Scheidemann): Motet, Dic nobis Maria –Wolfgang Rübsam (1959 Schlicker; 1996 Dobson/Chapel of the Resurrection, Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN) VUCA Media CD-1004

JOSEF RHEINBERGER: Praeludium, from Sonata Number 8 in e, Opus 132 –Wolfgang Rübsam (1996 Rieger/Fuldaer Dom, Fulda, Germany) Naxos 8.554549

JEHAN ALAIN: Berceuse sur deux notes; Intermezzo –Wolfgang Rübsam (1970 Rieger/Marienstatt Abbey, Germany) Bayer BR100 198/9

J.S. BACH: Trio Sonata Number 6 in G, S. 530 –Wolfgang Rübsam (1993 C.B. Fisk/Caruth Auditorium, SMU, Dallas, TX)

JOHANN GOTTFRIED WALTHER: Concerto in B-flat after Torelli –Craig Cramer (1770 Hofmann/Marienkirche, Mechterstädt, Thuringia, Germany) Naxos 8.554317

MAX REGER: Chorale-Fantasy, Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, Opus 52, number 2 –Wolfgang Rübsam (1993 C.B. Fisk/Caruth Auditorium, SMU, Dallas, TX) recorded July 13, 1994

Wolfgang Rübsam teaches at the Hochschule für Musik in Saarbrücken and is artist-in-residence at Lawrence University in Appleton, WI. In addition to his recital activity and his ongoing recording and production work in the series Encyclopedia of Organ Music for Naxos Records, Wolf runs a professional barbershop adjacent his recording studio at home in Valparaiso, Indiana. And he plays pretty well, too.