Daily Archives: 26 April, 2018

CDs April 18 (2)

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MIDNIGHT AT ST ETIENNE DU MONT
Joseph Nolan, organ of St Etienne du Mont, Paris
SIGNUM SIGCD470 78’35

This 9th Signum CD by Joseph Nolan celebrates the Parisian organ tradition and is recorded on the organ that Durufle knew so well, St Etienne du Mont. Presented here are Suite, Op 5 by Durufle alongside movements from Vierne’s Symphonies 5 & 6 as well as Fantomes from the 24 Pieces de fantasie, Op 54. Durufle’s transcription of Tournemire’s Improvisation sur le Te Deum opens the disc and David Briggs’ substantial Le Tombeau de Durufle concludes the recital. The name of the CD is inspired by Woody Allen’s film Midnight in Paris. It is easy to imagine being shut into the church through the night luxuriating in this evocative music.
(There is a mistake on the back cover insert – the last item plays for much longer)

FREEDOM OF SPIRIT 2 – David Briggs improvises ‘Live’ in Concert
David Briggs, organs of Trinity College, Cambridge, & Hofkirche, Luzer, Switzerland
& piano in Igreja de Lapa, Portugal
CHESTNUT  CD013   69’11

David Briggs has developed a reputation as a fine improviser, working with a range of material and producing some impressive, varied and well structure music. Here we have another collection of some of these one-off events, all from last year. The first, recorded at Cambridge is in the traditional French Catholic tradition – Suite Improvisee dans le style du Grand Siecle. This is followed by the three movement Triptyque Symphonique Improvisee sur deux themes. A shorter piano Improvisation in the style of Beethoven leads to the final Symphonie Improvisee en quatre mouvements recorded on the Luzern organ. It is very interesting to hear the way that Mr Briggs develops his material as well as his use of each instrument to bring colour and variety. It is also good to know that these “live” events have been preserved for future listening.

DOMENICO SCARLATTI –  COMPLETE KEYBOARD SONATAS VOL 20
Artem Yasynsky, piano
NAXOS 8.573604   58’55

This series has reached volume 20. Although this music is very worthwhile and is performed and recorded to the highest standards I continue to wonder at the value of these extended “complete” series, apart from for reference.

GEORGE PHILIPP TELEMANN – THE GRAND CONCERTOS FOR MIXED INSTRUMENTS VOL 5
La Stagione Frankfurt, conductor Michael Schneider
CPO 555 082-2   70’03

This 18th Century music written for courtly celebrations reflects the importance of hunting and dancing in the recreational life of the aristocracy. A varied selection of such music includes Divertimento in E flat major and Sonata in D major alongside 3 concerti for various wind & string combinations.

THE SECRET MASS – CHORAL WORKS BY FRANK MARTIN & BOHUSLAV MARTINU
Danish National Vocal Ensemble, conductor, Marcus Creed
OUR Recordings 6.220671   64’13

This is a very interesting disc of unaccompanied choral music from two composers born in different countries in the same year, 1890. They have left numerous works but few for unaccompanied voices and this release collects those works together. The title of the CD alludes to the fact that Martin’s Mass was not made public until 40 years after composition. The forces involved (double choir) mean that it has not been heard that often and recordings are always welcome. Alongside Martin’s Mass for two four-part choirs we hear his  Songs of Ariel and Martinu’s Four Songs of the Virgin Mary and Romance from the Dandelions.

PASSION & POLYPHONY – SACRED CHORAL MUSIC BY FRANK MARTIN & JAMES MacMILLAN
Sonoro, conducted by Neil Ferris
RESONUS RES10208  66’31

It’s a bit like buses… Here is another recording of Martin’s Mass for Double Choir. This time it is bookended by works from contemporary composer James MacMillan – Ceclila Virgo, Children are a heritage of the Lord, Miserere, Hymn to the Blessed Sacrament, Bring us O Lord God, Data est mihi omnis potestas  & concluding with the now very familiar (but still striking) O radiant dawn. This programme also works very well.

MON DIEU ME PAIST – PSALMS BY CLAUDE LE JEUNE
Choir of St Catherine’s College, Cambridge, Edward Wickham (conductor)
RESONUS RES10206   58’26

This is a very interesting and enjoyable release. Psalm-settings by this 16th Century Franco-Flemish composer from his Psalm collection, Dodecacorde, are paired with hymn settings of the same psalms from the Calvin Psalter. Beautifully sung in French under Edward Wickham’s direction, this collection takes its title from Psalm 23.

SERA D’INVERNO – SONGS BY ILDEBRANDO PIZZETTI
Hanna Hipp (mezzo-soprano) & Emma Abbate (piano)
RESONUS RES10209  55’20

Here is a good selection of songs from Italian twentieth century composer Ildebrando Pizzetti, showing something of the drama and emotion with which he sets the texts of a variety of authors, exploring themes of life and death, love and spirituality. Full texts and translations are included in the informative booklet.

SIGFRID KARG-ELERT – THE COMPLETE ORGAN WORKS VOL 15
Stefan Engels, Steinmeyer organ of Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim, Norway
PRIORY PRCD 1185

Another long-running “complete” series ends with Volume 15, comprising the remaining original works of Karg-Elert,the major work here being Kaleidoscope, Op 144, a four movement suite lasting just under 20 minutes. Alongside this are some of his transcriptions of well-known classics including Handel’s Harmonius Blacksmith  and the Pastorale from Bach’s Christmas Oratorio.

THE COMPLETE ORGAN SONATAS OF JOSEF RHEINBERGER
Roger Sayer, organ of The Temple Church, London
PRIORY PRCD 1165 (6 CDs)

Despite my reservations about some “complete” releases here is one that is very welcome. In a neatly packaged box set these 6 CDs provide excellent recordings of all 20 sonatas played here on this well-known but little recorded organ by Roger Sayer. This works as a useful reference but with the sonatas arranged as they are these are CDs that can be enjoyed in their own right.

J.S. BACH FROM SALISBURY
David Halls, organ of Salisbury Cathedral
PRIORY PRCD 1197 

Priory has released some very interesting series over the years, not least the Great European Organ series which reached its 100th, and final, CD a little while ago. The label has recently embarked on a new series combining accomplished organists with great cathedral organs and selected music by Bach. The intention is to make available something of the experience of Bach played on the organs of the English cathedral tradition as a contrast to recordings made on historic and modern “authentic” instruments. This new project began with a recording from Durham and here now moves to Salisbury with an enjoyable selection of Preludes & Fugues.

J.S. BACH FROM LIVERPOOL
Ian Tracey & David Poulter, organs of Liverpool (Anglican) Cathedral
PRIORY PRCD 1191

The next release in this series has a selection of chorale preludes, transcriptions from various works by Ian Tracey, the Trio Sonata No 1 in E flat, and bookended by two larger works, Fantasia in G and Prelude & Fuguein G major, BWV541. Ian Tracey, long associated with the cathedral plays half the programme on the main organ, whilst David Poulter, until recently the cathedral’s subsequent Director of Music, plays the Lady Chapel instrument. It is lovely to have both organs featured together on one CD, highlighting the differences but effectiveness of this pair of Willis organs. Altogether this is a varied and enjoyable programme.

Stephen Page

 

 

 

 

 

St Nicolas Church, Pevensey

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Broadcaster and historian Jonathan Foyle leads Heritage Open Day at St Nicolas, Pevensey

Dr Jonathan Foyle, renowned architectural historian and presenter of the award-winning BBC TV programme “Climbing Great Buildings”, will be a special guest at St Nicolas, Pevensey’s Heritage Open Day on Saturday 12 May. Jonathan will give a talk about the appeal of England’s parish churches and then lead an afternoon of painting, drawing and conversation in and around the 800 year old Grade 1 listed building.

The Open Day, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund as part of the £250,000 St Nicolas Restoration Programme, will open at 11.30am with an organ recital of church music from different historical eras. This will be followed by a bell ringing demonstration, with an opportunity for novices to have a go – no experience needed! At 2pm, Peter Harrison, Curator of Pevensey’s Court House Museum, will explain the importance of Pevensey as a seaport when the church was built in the early 13th century. Jonathan Foyle will then describe the national context at that time, which saw the English Church struggling under the turbulent reign of King John.Jonathan Foyle commented “I often draw for TV programmes, and find it a great way of interpreting buildings visually. I look forward to members of the local community joining me to celebrate their cultural heritage and engage with the architecture of St Nicolas Church through their artistic endeavours, whether or not they are experienced in drawing and painting.”

Churchwarden Simon Sargent said “We are delighted that Dr Jonathan Foyle is able to join us for this special day to celebrate the 800 year history of our newly restored church. We are very grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund for helping to make this happen, and for contributing to the cost of a number of attractive new displays about the history of St Nicolas and the village which it has served for so long. The Open Day is free of charge and we hope that the varied programme will appeal to people of all ages.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RFH International Organ Series: William Whitehead

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Royal Festival Hall 24th April 2018 

Having been thwarted by adverse weather conditions for the last recital it was especially good to be back in the Royal Festival Hall for this occasion.

William Whitehead’s programme contained items that may be regarded as Bach- inspired as well as just a little from the master himself.

A wonderful example of the ‘fantastic style’ of his teacher Buxtehude, Nicolaus Bruhns’ Praeludium in E minor  opened the preceedings with flair as loud florid outbursts contrasted with more contained introspective moments. This served as an excellent introduction to a short but key section of the evening’s recital.

William Whitehead has been curating The Orgelbuchlein Project, which is now almost complete. A number of composers have been approached to produce their own treatments of the planned for but never completed remaining chorales of Bach’s book. Two of Bach’s short chorale settings were played between premieres of Errollyn Wallen’s Ach, was ist doch unser Leben?, Kalevi Aho’s Herr Gott, erhalt uns fur und fur and Thierry Escaich’s Gott Vater, der du deine Sonn. The composer of the first of these was present with us for the performance. The widely diverging styles and the contrast with Bach’s settings made for a very special listening experience, emphasising the ongoing tradition of composers throughout the centuries adapting and re-working these carriers of the Christian faith.

Two movements from Schumann’s 6 Fugues on the name BACH followed and Parry’s Fantasia & Fugue in G brought the first half to a close in grand style.

The second half contained just one work – another large scale Fantasia & Fugue –  on ‘Ad nos, ad salutarem undam’. This tour de force was followed up with a beautifully contrasting encore –  Elegy by Parry, freshly rediscovered and about to be published.

A well-constructed and engaging programme, played with apparent ease and made all the more approachable by the occasional controlled introductions and explanations by Mr Whitehead – a feature I have often hoped for at these concerts. Humorous mention was also made about the lack of the organist’s “catwalk” – an earlier staging malfunction necessitating the evening’s performer to make a shorter (and easier) entrance from console level.

The next concert in this series opens the 2018/19 season with Stephen Cleobury and other musicians in a programme of Howells & Vierne on Wednesday 19th September.

Stephen Page