This week we will feature pipe organ music by Dr. Harald Röhlig in honor of Easter weekend. World renowned organist, Harald Röhlig is a composer and pipe organ designer. His career as a musician began in Germany during the 1930s. Harald is a German immigrant and experienced a lot of childhood memories living under the Hitler regime.
Harald’s father, Johannes Röhlig, was a United Methodist minister in northwest Germany who was imprisoned for preaching a sermon on obeying God before man. Harald was soon forced into joining the Hitler Youth and eventually into the German army while his father suffered in the Bergen Belsen concentration camp.
In 1953, Harald and his newly wedded wife, Ingeborg Lieverz, moved to America where he accepted a position as the minister of music and organist for First United Methodist Church in Linden, Alabama. Two years later, Harald joined the faculty of Huntington College in Montgomery, Alabama.
Today, Harald continues to compose, give private organ lessons and serve as organist and choirmaster at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Montgomery.
Below are audio clips of performances by Dr. Harald Röhlig from The University of Alabama Libraries Digital Collections. NOTE: After clicking audio links, close your browser window to return to this page.
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Orgelbüchlein. Christ ist erstanden - Christ is Risen
Christ We Praise Thee by J. S. Bach
Prelude by J. S. Bach
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