Hugo Distler's Harpsichord Concerto, Op. 14, was composed between the years 1935 and 1936. It is the second such work in his catalog, preceded in 1932 by his Chamber Concerto for harpsichord and 11 instruments. Add to that Distler's later piano concerto (1937) and his incidental music for the play Barbe Bleue (1940) and you have his entire output in terms of orchestral music. At this point in Distler's life, the Nazi hierarchy was beginning to take note of his fervent dedication to the Protestant church and the advanced nature of his harmonic style, neither of which placed him in good stead with the Nazi party. The premiere of the Harpsichord Concerto was given in Hamburg in 1936 with Distler as soloist and Hans Hofmann conducting. After the performance, cultural authorities within the Third Reich would not allow Bärenreiter to publish the score until the third movement was removed, as they disapproved of its sound and style. This would be one of the first steps along the path that took Distler from a promising career as a major voice among young German composers of sacred music to that of a "degenerate artist." Needless to say, the third movement was ultimately restored to the work, and as a whole, Distler's Harpsichord Concerto, Op. 14, is an astounding piece, rich with ideas that still sound fresh and structurally as tight as a drum. Although his so-called neo-Baroque approach may have worked most idiomatically in Distler's choral works and organ compositions, there's no denying the unique harmonic profile of Distler's music and his deft handling of the ripieno-styled accompaniment. One wonders what Distler might have achieved in orchestral music had he been spared from the scrutiny of authorities, and ultimately, his tragic fate.

© Uncle Dave Lewis , All Music Guide