Passacaglia in D minor on a theme by Purcell, Op. 4 — Egbert Juffer

This early organ work by Dutch-British composer Egbert Juffer is a compact Passacaglia on a Theme by Purcell. Written on January 3rd, 2018, it presents a solemn ground bass that is continuously varied across the piece. Registrations progress from delicate flute colours through fuller diapason combinations to brilliant reeds and mixtures, giving the music a sense of concentrated drama. Though an early opus, it already shows Juffer’s command of Variation form and architectural pacing in miniature. By contrast, his later Passacaglia in G minor, Op. 17 expands the form into a large-scale, 14-variation work of 12–14 minutes’ duration, making this earlier piece a concise precursor.

Why you’ll love it:

Purcellian foundation – A noble ground bass adapted from Purcell underpins the structure.

Concise yet dramatic – A compact set of variations that grows in colour and intensity within a short span.

Clear layout – 3 pages of music notation presented within a 6-page publication, cleanly typeset with registration guidance.

Intermediate accessibility – Suitable for organists at UK Grade 5–6; performance time is about 3–3½ minutes, depending on tempo and pacing.

About the composer:

Egbert Juffer (b. 1991) holds multiple diplomas in composition and theory (LLCM, LVCM, AMusLCM) and has quickly earned a reputation for vibrant, audience-friendly organ works released through EJ Music Publishing Ltd.

Publication details:

Passacaglia in D minor on a theme by Purcell, Op. 4 — 6 pages in total (3 pages of music notation), organ score in PDF format. © 2018 EJ Music Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved; purchase licenses you to play from the copy but not to reproduce or distribute it. Catalogue No.: EJMP03008.

Add sheet music of this compact Passacaglia in D minor by Egbert Juffer to your repertoire and enjoy its blend of Purcellian gravitas and Juffer’s emerging voice in Variation form.