Pedal Organ

Among many fine works this first volume contains two particular treasures, the first being a fabulous two-verse rendition of the chorale "Gott sey gelobet und gebenedeiet"; and the second is Weckmann's extraordinary masterpiece, the monumental extended chorale fantasy on "Es ist das Heyl uns kommen her". Each one of the seven variations is a fine piece, but by the time you get to the initially understated opening of the sixth variation you have the feeling that you are in for something special, and indeed the majestic Lutheran chorale theme is soon blossoming into the most beautiful and elaborate variations you can imagine, which you begin to wish would never cease. The work is then rounded off by a majestic statement of the original hymn tune, and so the disc ends.

The Romantic Piano Concerto series reaches 62 and makes an interesting (although temporary) departure: these four works are for pedal piano (a piano which includes a separate keyboard for the feet, to be played rather in the manner of an organ). Gounod was inspired by the talent of the young and apparently very attractive Lucie Palicot (born circa 1860) whom he heard performing Alkan’s music for pedal piano in 1882. Gounod is far better known for his operatic and liturgical compositions: these works show a different side to this nineteenth-century luminary….

Marcel Dupré - Ben van Oosten - Organ Works Vol. 10
Organ of Birmingham Town Hall
EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 239 MB | Full Artwork: 116 MB | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: MDG "Gold" # 316 1292-2 | Country/Year: Germany 2008
Genre: Classical | Style: Style: 20th Century, Organ

"…In many ways Dupré may be viewed as a 'Paganini' of the organ - being a virtuoso of the highest order, he contributed extensively to the development of technique (both in his organ music and in his pedagogical works) although, like Paganini, his music is relatively unknown to musicians other than those who play the instrument for which the music was written. A fair and objective critique of his music should take into account the fact that, occasionally, the emphasis on virtuosity and technique can be detrimental to the musical content and substance. However, his more successful works combine this virtuosity with a high degree of musical integrity, qualities found in works such as the Symphonie-Passion, the Chemin de la Croix, the Preludes and Fugues, the Esquisses and Évocation, and the Cortège et Litanie…" ~wikipedia

Marcel Dupré - Ben van Oosten - Organ Works Vol. 10
Organ of Birmingham Town Hall
EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 239 MB | Full Artwork: 166 MB | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: MDG "Gold" # 316 1292-2 | Country/Year: Germany 2008
Genre: Classical | Style: 20th Century, Organ

…In many ways Dupré may be viewed as a 'Paganini' of the organ - being a virtuoso of the highest order, he contributed extensively to the development of technique (both in his organ music and in his pedagogical works) although, like Paganini, his music is relatively unknown to musicians other than those who play the instrument for which the music was written. A fair and objective critique of his music should take into account the fact that, occasionally, the emphasis on virtuosity and technique can be detrimental to the musical content and substance. However, his more successful works combine this virtuosity with a high degree of musical integrity, qualities found in works such as the Symphonie-Passion, the Chemin de la Croix, the Preludes and Fugues, the Esquisses and Évocation, and the Cortège et Litanie…

Brilliant Classics has already published all 88 of Domenico Cimarosa’s keyboard sonatas in their commonly encountered appearance as harpsichord pieces (BC95027), as well as an album of 30 sonatas in arrangements for guitar (BC94172). He may still be better known as a composer of comic opera, for masterpiece such as Il matrimonio segreto, but this new album of the sonatas in versions for organ celebrates the variety and adaptability of Cimarosa’s idiom and demonstrates why he was so lionized in his own time.

Marcel Dupré - Ben van Oosten - Organ Works Vol. 1
Cavaillé-Coll-Organ, Saint Ouen, Rouen
EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 177 MB | Full Artwork: 124 MB | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: MDG "Gold" # 316 0951-2 | Country/Year: Germany 1999
Genre: Classical | Style: 20th Century, Organ

"…In many ways Dupré may be viewed as a 'Paganini' of the organ - being a virtuoso of the highest order, he contributed extensively to the development of technique (both in his organ music and in his pedagogical works) although, like Paganini, his music is relatively unknown to musicians other than those who play the instrument for which the music was written. A fair and objective critique of his music should take into account the fact that, occasionally, the emphasis on virtuosity and technique can be detrimental to the musical content and substance. However, his more successful works combine this virtuosity with a high degree of musical integrity, qualities found in works such as the Symphonie-Passion, the Chemin de la Croix, the Preludes and Fugues, the Esquisses and Évocation, and the Cortège et Litanie…" ~wikipedia

Marcel Dupré - Ben van Oosten - Organ Works Vol. 3
Cavaillé-Coll Organ, Saint-Ouen, Rouen
EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 197 MB | Full Artwork: 124 MB | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: MDG "Gold" # 316 0953-2 | Country/Year: Germany 2001
Genre: Classical | Style: 20th Century, Organ

"…In many ways Dupré may be viewed as a 'Paganini' of the organ - being a virtuoso of the highest order, he contributed extensively to the development of technique (both in his organ music and in his pedagogical works) although, like Paganini, his music is relatively unknown to musicians other than those who play the instrument for which the music was written. A fair and objective critique of his music should take into account the fact that, occasionally, the emphasis on virtuosity and technique can be detrimental to the musical content and substance. However, his more successful works combine this virtuosity with a high degree of musical integrity, qualities found in works such as the Symphonie-Passion, the Chemin de la Croix, the Preludes and Fugues, the Esquisses and Évocation, and the Cortège et Litanie…" ~wikipedia

Marcel Dupré - Ben van Oosten - Organ Works Vol. 2
Cavaillé-Coll-Organ, Eglise Sainte-Madeleine, Paris
EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 271 MB | Full Artwork: 123 MB | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: MDG "Gold" # 316 0952-2 | Country/Year: Germany 2001
Genre: Classical | Style: Style: 20th Century, Organ

"…In many ways Dupré may be viewed as a 'Paganini' of the organ - being a virtuoso of the highest order, he contributed extensively to the development of technique (both in his organ music and in his pedagogical works) although, like Paganini, his music is relatively unknown to musicians other than those who play the instrument for which the music was written. A fair and objective critique of his music should take into account the fact that, occasionally, the emphasis on virtuosity and technique can be detrimental to the musical content and substance. However, his more successful works combine this virtuosity with a high degree of musical integrity, qualities found in works such as the Symphonie-Passion, the Chemin de la Croix, the Preludes and Fugues, the Esquisses and Évocation, and the Cortège et Litanie…" ~wikipedia