This generous second helping from Christopher Herrick’s complete Buxtehude series features the two-manual instrument designed by Joachim Wagner, the leading Prussian organ-builder of the late Baroque period, for Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, and last reconstructed in 1994. Its generous specification is comprehensively demonstrated by Herrick who wisely intersperses the longer pieces with a quartet of limpid and simply embellished chorale preludes. Foremost among the latter is Wär Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit, which could almost be from the pen of Bach himself.

Individual registrations are helpfully listed in the excellent booklet. As befits an apprentice of Silbermann, Wagner’s pipework has a pleasing silvery quality to it, allowing the listener to enjoy Herrick’s lighter approach, particularly in the manuals-only Toccata in G. Other highlights include the carefully shaped variations on the chorale Nimm von uns, Herr, and the only work on the disc based on plainsong, the chorale fantasia on the Te Deum, with its refreshing echo effects. The concluding Prelude in C rounds off this highly enjoyable performance with a true organo pleno.

Herrick uses Christoph Albrecht’s new Bärenreiter edition for these recordings, which might raise a few eyebrows from those used to the old, pre-war Peters edition. As one might expect, Herrick brings a convincing sense of fluidity and a quasi-extemporaneous flair to the music, in marked contrast to the occasionally frenzied fervour of Ton Koopman on his recent complete set. The recorded sound is ideal with traffic rumble minimised. Another triumph!