Bruhns, Nicolaus (EN)

Bruhns Nicolaus, *12 December 1665 Schwabstedt (Schleswig-Holstein), †29 March 1697 Husum (Schleswig-Holstein), German singer, organist, violinist and composer. He came from a family of musicians active in Schleswig-Holstein. He initially studied with his father, the organist Paul Bruhns, and in 1681 with D. Buxtehude in Lübeck. He was known primarily as a virtuoso violinist, who performed double stops and multiphonics with remarkable ease, and as an improviser. He undertook numerous tours and performed at court concerts in Copenhagen, among other places. He also worked as an organist, initially in Copenhagen and, from 1689, at Husum Cathedral.

Bruhns’ cantatas belong to the genre of sacred concertos featuring a choir, solo voices (ariosos) and instruments; they are based on biblical texts, chant and madrigal poetry. Bruhns’ organ compositions show clear influences from Buxtehude’s toccatas.

Literature: H. Kölsch Nicolaus Bruhns, Kassel 1958; R.C. Fosse Nicolaus Bruhns, in: The Musical Heritage of the Lutheran Church, ed. T. Hoelty-Nickel, St. Louis 1959; M. Geek Nicolaus Bruhns Leben und Werk, Cologne 1968; H. Wettstein D. Buxtehude (1637–1707). Eine Bibliographie. Mit einem Anhang über N. Bruhns, Freiburg im Breisgau 1979; B.A. Raedeke The Organ Works of Nicolaus Bruhns. A Study of Form, Style and Performance, thesis Eastman School of Music, Rochester 1983; W. Breig Der “stylus phantasticus” in der Lübecker Orgelmusik. Studien zur Musikgeschichte der Hansestadt Lübeck, ed. A. Edler, «Schriften zur Musikwissenschaft» XXXI, Kassel 1989.