Organ Concerto in B flat major, Op. 4 No. 2

A tempo ordinario –

Allegro

Adagio –

Allegro ma non presto

The Organ Concerto in B flat was first performed with the oratorio Esther in 1735. In a rather more modest work than the slightly later Organ Concerto in G minor the first solo entry is delayed – unless the organist chooses to make a little cadenza of the transition between the short opening movement and the next – until the orchestra has introduced the main theme of the Allegro. After that it is rarely silent, sustaining comparatively long solo episodes between the orchestra’s reminders of the main theme or taking part in a quick exchange of phrases with the strings. The short Adagio features the organ to the near exclusion of the orchestra which, however, returns to introduce the main theme of the last movement, a congenial inspiration which proceeds at as gentle pace but not without the occasional display of digital agility from the soloist.