Buxtehude: Complete Organ Works Vol 4 Christopher Herrick (2011)

The fourth volume of Masaaki Suzuki’s Bach works for organ series features one of the most important surviving instruments of Bach’s time, made by the German organ builder Christoph Treutmann the Elder. Widely known for its extraordinary tonal quality, the instrument was built between 1734 and 1737.

David Goode continues his new series of the complete organ works of Johann Sebastian Bach, played on the Metzler Söhne organ of Trinity College Chapel, Cambridge. This seventh volume for March 2018 includes festive works such as In dulci jubilo.

David Goode continues his new series of the complete organ works of Johann Sebastian Bach, played on the Metzler Söhne organ of Trinity College Chapel, Cambridge.

When a composer is also a virtuoso player of a certain instrument, rather unavoidably his or her output mirrors such a predilection. It normally translates in a high number of works written for that instrument, in a pronounced capability to write idiomatically for that instrument, and frequently in experimental innovations and explorations.Many of these traits apply to Camille Saint-Saëns’ relationship zwith the organ, though not all of them. Saint-Saëns was one of the most prodigious child prodigies of all times in the musical field. He received his first music lessons from his aunt when he was not yet three years old, and is credited to have composed his first piano piece just one year later. By the time he was eleven, he debuted triumphally at the Salle Pleyel in Paris, performing two piano Concertos (one by Mozart and one by Beethoven), a work by Johann Sebastian Bach, and allegedly offering to the audience the possibility to choose any one of Beethoven’s 32 Sonatas as an encore!

The fourth volume of Masaaki Suzuki’s Bach works for organ series features one of the most important surviving instruments of Bach’s time, made by the German organ builder Christoph Treutmann the Elder. Widely known for its extraordinary tonal quality, the instrument was built between 1734 and 1737. A recent general restoration preserved all essential structural elements or renewed them, remaining faithful to the originals, making it an ideal instrument for Bach interpreters who wish to come close to the sound ideas of the Leipzig Thomaskantor.

This fourth volume in Nicholas Walker’s complete edition of Balakirev’s piano music is structured around his three Scherzos, which take us from the youthful influence of Chopin and Liszt in the First Scherzo, to the music of his prolific final decade, from which the Second Scherzo is one of his finest compositions. Balakirev’s interest in Spanish music was kindled by his mentor Glinka, creating surprisingly authentic sounding textures and rhythms, and the programme is topped with the elegantly masterful poetry of the two Valse-Caprices.

Selim Palmgren, a student of Busoni, was one of the leading Nordic composers during the first decades of the 20th century. His wide-ranging music for piano was performed and recorded by some of the greatest artists of the day. This third volume in the first complete cycle of Palmgren’s piano music on disc includes a varied cross-section of works written over a 50-year period. It includes the youthful Lyriskt intermezzo, Op. 8, romantic miniatures of great charm—as well as one of his greatest achievements, the atmospheric suite Kevät (‘Spring’), in which impressionist elements fuse with rich Finnish folk melody.

The seven works brought together on Vol. 4 of our complete recording of Kuhnau’s cantatas offer a remarkable cross section featuring sacred works and more. They have also been transmitted in all sorts of different ways.

This fourth volume in Nicholas Walker’s complete edition of Balakirev’s piano music is structured around his three Scherzos, which take us from the youthful influence of Chopin and Liszt in the First Scherzo, to the music of his prolific final decade, from which the Second Scherzo is one of his finest compositions. Balakirev’s interest in Spanish music was kindled by his mentor Glinka, creating surprisingly authentic sounding textures and rhythms, and the programme is topped with the elegantly masterful poetry of the two Valse-Caprices.