The Gothic Catalog

Hans Davidsson - Buxtehude and the Schnitger Organ Video

2011-03-24T09:32:00.000-07:00

Today we want to share a video we created featuring Hans Davidsson's recording, "Buxtehude and the Schitger Organ", which is the third volume of Buxtehude's complete organ works.

Buxtehude's visit with Arp Schnitger in Hamburg in 1687 began an association that lasted for many years and resulted in the building of the four manual organ at the Cathedral in Lübeck, as well as modifications to the organ at Saint Marien. As there are limited details regarding registrations for Buxtehude's music, Hans Davidsson explores the encounter between the music and the four manual organ in Göteborg, Sweden to bring new perspectives to his performance on this final volume of the complete works of Buxtehude.

Buy Dieterich Buxtehude and the Schnitger Organ from the Gothic Catalog and save.

Celebrating J.S. Bach

2011-03-22T14:14:00.000-07:00

March is J.S. Bach month at The Gothic Catalog, and last Sunday on The Organ Loft, we celebrated with an all-Bach program. Today we'd like to share a little from Sunday's Organ Loft to continue J.S. Bach celebrations.

Sinfonia
Organ Concertos and Sinfonias by J.S. Bach
The Joe R. Engle Organ of Miller Chapel, Princeton Theological Seminary
Paul Fritts and Co. Opus 20
Princeton University Chapel Camerata
Joan Lippincott, organ

Gothic Records G-49130
List Price: $18.98
Purchase at our Price of: $14.98

The Joan Lippincott Bach collection on Gothic (8 discs!)

Joan Lippincott's Bach landmark recordings on Gothic Records! Nincediscs (7 single CDs, one double CD), at a special price.

The following items are included in this set:
Toccatas & Fugues by Bach/Lippincott ($18.98 value!)
Bach: Leipzig Chorales/Lippincott ($18.98 value!)
Bach Trio Sonatas/Lippincott ($18.98 value!)
Sinfonia: Organ Concertos and Sinfonias by J.S. Bach/Lippincott ($18.98 value!)
Preludes & Fugues/Lippincott ($18.98 value!)
Clavierübung III & Schübler Chorales/Lippincott (2 CDs!) ($26.98 value!)
J.S. Bach: Weimar Preludes and Fugues/Lippincott ($18.98 value!)
J.S. Bach: Concerto Transcriptions/Lippincott ($18.98 value!)

Gothic Records
List Price: $178.82
Purchase at our Price of: $74.98

The Organ Loft - Sinfonia! Joan Lippincott plays concertos by J.S. Bach

2011-03-18T11:14:00.000-07:00

The Organ Loft - March 20, 2011
Sinfonia! Joan Lippincott plays concertos by J.S. Bach
Webcast and Broadcast Schedule

This week on the Organ Loft, we're featuring Joan Lippincott and recordings of Bach transcriptions. The featured work is the keyboard Concerto in D minor, whose movements were transcribed by Bach for organ with orchestra in various cantata movements.

Program
(All Music in this week's program was composed by J.S. Bach)

Presto from Sinfonia in D major¹
Concerto in D minor¹
Allegro from Sonata No. 5 in C major, BWV 529²
Concerto in D-minor¹

Recordings Used:

Listen Online:

KING-FM Seattle's Classical Choice — Sundays at 10:00 PM

OREGON: KWAX-FM and the University of Oregon radio network — Sundays at 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day at St. Patrick's Cathedral

2011-03-17T10:56:00.000-07:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day! What better way is there to celebrate than by listening to The Great Organ of Saint Patrick's Cathedral?

GREAT ORGAN OF ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL, New York City
Donald Dumler, organist

This organ CD is always in our best-sellers list, year after year. With both popular and unusual works in his progam, Cathedral Organist Donald Dumler strikes just the right balance of musical choices.

Both the Chancel and Grand Gallery Organs were built by Kilgen, and are controlled by two new "twin" five-manual consoles. With 177 stops and over 9,000 pipes, the organ is both a grand musical statement, and a priceless antique whose sounds evoke the ideals of organbuilding in the 1920's.

Bach: Toccata & Fugue in D Minor
Bach: Ich ruf' zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ
Clarke: Trumpet Voluntary
Creston: Prelude from Suite for Organ
Clokey: Pastorale
Edmundson: Vom Himmel Hoch
Handel: Largo from "Xerxes"
Durufle: Prelude & Fugue on ALAIN
Jongen: Choral
Daniel-Lesur: In Paradisum
Massenet: Meditation from "Thais"
Elgar: Pomp & Circumstance, No. 1

Currently out of stock at http://gothic-catalog.com, but find it at the following preferred retailers (and both have MP3 versions available):

ArkivMusic.com

ClassicsOnline.com

The ECU Chamber Singers

2011-03-16T12:54:00.000-07:00

Monday we posted a review on the ECU Chamber Singers from the American Record Guide in which the reviewer stated that they were “One of the nation’s finest vocal ensembles". Today we bring you a couple of videos to show you this is no empty statement.

ECU Chamber Sngers - Faire is the Heaven

ECU Chamber Singers - Sanctus from Frank Martin's Mass for Double Chorus a cappella.

Eternal Light
East Carolina University Chamber Singers
Daniel Bara, conductor

New music for a capella choir and solo instruments
Four world-premier recordings
Includes the first recording of Egil Hovland’s Agnus Dei (2000)

Gothic Records G-49242
List price: $18.98
Our price: $15.98

American Record Guide Reviews Eternal Light

2011-03-14T07:59:00.000-07:00

From American Record Guide:

“If you follow the best American academic choirs, this one should be on your must-hear list. Their sound is rich and smooth, their technique is well-nigh faultless, and their spiritual intensity will touch any listener’s soul.”

“One of the nation’s finest vocal ensembles & and they prove it here.”

Eternal Light
East Carolina University Chamber Singers
Daniel Bara, conductor

New music for a capella choir and solo instruments
Four world-premier recordings
Includes the first recording of Egil Hovland’s Agnus Dei (2000)

Gothic Records G-49242
List price: $18.98
Our price: $15.98

The ECU Chamber Singers’ first Gothic recording

One of the best-sounding organ/choral discs we have ever recorded!

The ECU Chamber Singers and organist Janette Fishell are conducted by Daniel Bara
in these monuments of the English choral tradition.
The choir’s sound is greatly enhanced by the sumptuous acoustics of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Greenville,
and its large, new Fisk organ.

Britten: Rejoice in the Lamb
Howells: Requiem
Ireland Greater: Love hath no man
and more…

Sound sample of Tu es Petrus (Pearsall)

Gothic Records G-49256
List price: $18.98
Our price: $15.98

The Organ Loft - Potpourri!

2011-03-11T09:50:00.000-08:00

The Organ Loft - March 13, 2011
Potpourri!
Webcast and Broadcast Schedule

This week on the Organ Loft, we're featuring a wide range of music, and local artists/instruments. We've got Choral Arts Northwest and William Porter playing Bach at PLU. We'll also have music from Craig Phillips, Rheinberger, Flor Peeters, Vierne, Sibelius, Bach, and a Spiritual arranged by Norman Luboff.

Program

CRAIG PHILLIPS: Serenade for Horn and Organ¹
RHEINBERGER: Kyrie²
FLOR PEETERS: Aria³
VIERNE: Finale from Symphony no. 1 in d minor op.42³
SIBELIUS: Finlandia OP.26⁴
J.S BACH: Passacaglia and Fugue in c minor BWV 528⁵
Spiritual arr. by Norman Luboff: Deep River²

Recordings Used:

“A Festival in Song: The music of Craig Phillips” GOTHIC G49207
“Choral Arts Live in Concert 200-2003” Choral Arts live concert recording
“Organ Under Glass” Peter Baicchi playing the Crystal Cathedral Organ 1997
“Around The World in 80 Minutes. Nigel Potts, Concert Organist”. GUILD GMCD7165
“One of a Kind; the Music of Johann Sebastian Bach” William Porter, organist. LOFT LRCD1025

Listen Online:

KING-FM Seattle's Classical Choice — Sundays at 10:00 PM

OREGON: KWAX-FM and the University of Oregon radio network — Sundays at 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM

The Gothic Catalog has gone Global

2011-03-09T08:13:00.000-08:00

We are pleased to announce that Naxos is now offering global distribution of The Gothic Catalog through Naxos affiliates worldwide including:

Argentina
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Brazil
Canada
Chile
Columbia
Costa Rica
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
El Salvador
ESTONIA
Finland
France

Germany
Guatemala
Greece
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Latvia
Lithuania
Malta
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
SLOVAKIA
SLOVENIA
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States of America
Uruguay

The mission of The Gothic Catalog is to generate enthusiasm and literacy in classical music, particular music for organs and choirs. The Gothic Catalog with Loft Recordings publishes recordings, produces a weekly radio program (The Organ Loft), provides recording services for artists, and offers recordings for sale through http://gothic-catalog.com and a mail order catalog.

The Gothic Catalog:
Loft Recordings was founded in 1999; in 2001, Loft purchased the assets of Gothic Records, a company which had been producing great organ and choral recordings for almost 25 years. Loft established "The Gothic Catalog" as a mail-order webstore where recordings from both companies could be showcased, alongside other recordings from third-party labels. In June 2008, we acquired Clarion Records, a record label which features semi-professional American choirs and a large catalog of world premier choral recordings. And in 2009 we became the exclusive publisher and distributor of recordings from the Washington National Cathedral.

Hymns Through the Centuries - Digitally Re-Mastered

2011-03-07T10:03:00.000-08:00

We have just completed a full digital re-mastering of the most popular recordings in our catalog:

Hymns through the Centuries
The Cathedral Choral Society
Washington National Cathedral

Great hymns from the broad church tradition sung by a large choir in a monumental space with a large organ.
You will be singing along—guaranteed!

Add volume 2 for a special package price of $24.98!

VOLUME 1

When in our music God is glorified
Ye watchers and ye holy ones
A mighty fortress is our God
Where cross the crowded ways of life
O sacred head, sore wounded
All glory, laud and honor
Abide with me, fast falls the eventide
My shepherd will supply my need
Come, ye thankful people, come
Let all mortal flesh keep silence
Rock of ages, cleft for me
Praise, my soul, the King of heaven
Come, risen Lord
Carillon hymn: St Peter
Eternal Father, strong to save
Amazing grace! how sweet the sound
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty
Nearer, my God, to thee
Dear Lord and Father of mankind
In Christ there is no East or West
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Crown Him with many crowns
Word of God, come down on earth
The Church's one foundation
God of our fathers
Father, in thy gracious keeping
Peal Bells

VOLUME 2

Peal Bells
Jesus, my all, to heaven has gone
Our thanks we give for love and hope
In the bleak midwinter
Creating God, your fingers trace
Rejoice, ye pure in Heart!
Let all the world in every corner sing
Organ solo: Ar hyd y nos
Of the Father's love begotten
Come down, O Love divine
Spirit of God, descend upon my heart
God is love
What wondrous love is this!
All my hope on God is founded
Carillon Solo: Leoni
O God of our divided world
Christ, might Savior
Breathe on me, Breath of God
I vow to thee, my country
The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended
Lord of all hopefulness
O brightness of the immortal Father's face
O praise ye the Lord!
Bagpipe Solo: Hyfrydol

Gothic G-49112 Volume 1
Retail price: $18.98
Our price: $15.98

Gothic G-49204 Volume 2
Retail price: $18.98
Our price: $15.98

Volumes 1 & 2 together
Retail price: $37.96
Our Price $24.98!

Click here to see all of our hymn CDs

The Organ Loft - Pamela Ruiter-Feenstra at Trinity Lutheran; Duruflé Mass 'Cum Jubilo'

2011-03-04T11:56:00.000-08:00

The Organ Loft - March 6, 2011
Pamela Ruiter-Feenstra at Trinity Lutheran; Duruflé Mass 'Cum Jubilo'
Webcast and Broadcast Schedule

This week on the Organ Loft, we're featuring music for the end of Epiphany and the beginning of Lent. Pamela Ruiter-Feenstra plays Bach and Improvisations on Lutheran choral themes (at Trinity Lutheran in Lynnwood), followed by Maurice Duruflé’s Mass cum jubilo for men’s voices and organ (Trinity College, Cambridge).

Program

Pamela Ruiter-Feenstra: Improvisation: Dance Suite on “Wie Schön leuchtet der Morgenstern”¹
Pamela Ruiter-Feenstra: Improvisation: “O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden”¹
Gabriel Fauré: Cantique de Jean Racine¹
J. S. Bach: Fantasia and Fugue in a, BWV 904¹
J. S. Bach: “Erbarm dich, mein, O Herre Gott” BWV 721¹
J. S. Bach: “Fantasia super “Komm, Heiliger Geist” BWV 651¹
Maurice Duruflé: Messe 'Cum jubilo' Opus 11²

Recordings Used:

“Bach, Improvisations and the Liturgical Year” Pamela Ruiter-Feenstra, organ. ReZound RZCD-5016
“Duruflé: Complete Choral Works” Choir of Trinity College, Richard Marlow, dir. Chandos CHAN 10357

Listen Online:

KING-FM Seattle's Classical Choice — Sundays at 10:00 PM

OREGON: KWAX-FM and the University of Oregon radio network — Sundays at 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM

Buxtehude Organ Works Reviews

2011-03-03T11:51:00.000-08:00

Here are some more great reviews for Hans Davidsson's Complete Organ Works of Buxtehude collection:

"I bought your registration Dieterich Buxtehude and the Mean-Tone Organ employing the ULSI technique. It’s really fantastic the high level of quality you are able to extrapolate from the true sound of the organ." —Gianni Movia, Italy

"I just heard the Buxtehude. It’s incredible! Wow! The music, performer, organ, room and recording are perfectly matched with the highest quality. The sound of the organ came to the point of the true reproduction of the reality." —Munetaka Yokota, organbuilder

"Buy this album if you are interested in audio technology and are curious about what Erik Sikkema means by ULSI technology!" —Hans Hellsten, Sweden

"Diderich ‘Hansen’ Buxtehude (1637–1707) was born in Denmark, and was active as an organist, composer, and cultural entrepreneur in Denmark and Sweden as well as in Germany, where he became known as Dieterich Buxtehude. He grew up in Helsingør, Denmark, and served as organist in Helsingborg (now in Sweden) and Helsingør before accepting one of the most prestigious musical positions in North Germany, that of organist at St. Mary’s Church, Lübeck, in 1668. During his nearly forty years of service there he achieved fame not only as an organist but also as the composer and director of a concert series known as the Lübeck Abendmusiken. Although he left an impressive corpus of arias, sacred concertos, and cantatas for voices with instruments as well as two printed editions of sonatas for strings, it is chiefly his organ works that captured the attention of performers both in his day and in our own. His organ music appeals to modern listeners because it is full of the fantasy, variety and unpredictability that characterises seventeenth-century music, yet is rooted in the major-minor tonal system familiar to our ears. The works fall into two broad categories, those based on chorale melodies and those freely composed. He set many chorales as short preludes, with a highly ornamented melody to be played by the right hand on one manual, a two-voice accompaniment for a second manual, and a continuo-like bass for the pedal. Despite their unity of style, they show endless variety in their ornamentation. His extensive chorale fantasias, on the other hand, develop each phrase of the chorale in a contrasting style. His free pedaliter praeludia are the works for which e is best known, demonstrating his virtuosity as both a composer and a performer. The large organ that Buxtehude played in St Mary’s in Lübeck had fifty-four stops on three manuals and pedal. Recent research suggests that it may have been in mean tone, a tuning in which the tonal excursions that Buxtehude included in some of his praeludia would have been difficult to play. Hans Davidsson’s bold undertaking of the recording of Buxtehude’s entire organ repertoire in mean tone gives us startling new insights into how this ‘heavenly harmony’ might have sounded in the seventeenth century. This beautifully produced double-CD is the first in a projected three-volume series from Loft Recordings and is essential listening for anyone interested in early organ music."
—John Pitt, New Classics (UK)

"Hans Davidsson has recently released a recording called ”Dieterich Buxtehude and the Mean-Tone Organ”. It is a double CD and the first of three sets that will cover the complete organ works of Dietrich Buxtehude. It is not merely another recording of the complete organ works of Buxtehude, but a recording with a vision and a pedagogical design.

"The idea is to record Buxtehude on a large organ in mean-tone, something that has never been done before. The reason it hasn’t been done before is that that there has been a belief that the music of Buxtehude has been intended for well-tempered organs – but convenience has probably also played a part. Newer research has shown that the organ works of Buxtehude were written in a context where mean-tone temperament was an important ingredient. A counter-argument based around the existence of pieces in remote keys- such as the preludes in f#-minor and A major – is not sustainable since the keyboard compositions of Buxtehude’s time didn’t have the same function as they began to have around hundred years later in music history. Composing and improvising were still two parts of the same practice, so a composition lived a life that probably consisted of a large number of improvised versions and one or several written down versions (perhaps even in different keys). The written notation of a piece was a tool to develop and spread (to colleagues and students) that organ playing that was mostly improvised.

“Pedagogical design” is a somewhat clumsy way to say that Hans Davidsson’s recording is so much more than a recording. The buyer gets a richly illustrated booklet, and if he or she is not content with the exciting essays there are even more detailed program notes and registration indications of the record label’s website. The program notes are excellent examples of texts that contain a good balance of facts, speculations and explanations of musical choices.

"I suspect a larger ambition behind this very complete production. The aurally and visually magnificent organs, the important role of the organist in both church service s and local musical life and a music making where composition, improvisation and interpretation were different sides of the same practice: all these aspects of the North German Baroque organ art can be made into a story about the golden age of organ art. And that is what Hans Davidsson achieves with rhetorical power in both playing and texts. The story of the golden age makes us question our present but also- paradoxically – enables us to shape our future. Presumably that is the intention, and I think that is excellent.

"This is a double CD that can be recommended in every respect to be bought, listened to, studied and challenged by:

"Buy this record if you are interested in sound recording and are curious about what Erik Sikkema’s USLI-technique means. It is enough to listen to it with just open ears to realize that organs seldom sounds this good on records, you can hear both the room and the details.

"Listen to this music if you, in an increasingly more noisy, more tone deaf and more insensitive world are in need of good examples and inspiring role models to be able to continue your work as a church musician, organist or pedagogue! Here is a story from the golden age of organ art, from the 17th century North Germany where the bourgeois proudly invested in magnificent organs and where the organist was a kind of musical preacher.

"Study this production even if you have heard all earlier and current recordings of Buxtehude’s organ works, and even if you have played them all! There are new details to discover, new relationships to understand and new interpretations to experience. Hans Davidsson has begun a rereading of the musical heritage of Buxtehude; a rereading that surprises, challenges and pleases. It is for example an excellent idea to use the history of David and Goliath as an interpretive pattern for the battered Prelude Fugue and Ciacona in C-major. To play Buxtehude in mean-tone is a risky decision, but here it is so well argued and convincingly done that all you can say is: of course, this is the way it must be. It must be impossible not to be seduced by the lovely principals and flutes of the Örgryte organ.

"Be challenged by this record if you think that music can’t be talked about. It is reasonable that you sometime not speak instead of playing or listening. But there is a rich tradition, at least within what is nowadays called western art music, to talk about music, and to let that speaking and knowledge enrich the interpretation and the listening. Hans Davidsson shows with his interpretation of the Preludium in D-major (BuxWV 139), that there is instrumental music that is so close to speech that even if it doesn’t speak, it can be understood clearly.

"Hans Davidsson’s ”Buxtehude and the Mean-Tone Organ” is a brilliant combination of musicality, fantasy, learning and pedagogy. Buy it! Since both the musicianship and program notes are so rich in information the record should be enjoyed in small doses, but that is a good thing: it lasts longer!"

Hans Hellsten, Swedish Church Music Journal
Professor of organ at the School of Music in Malmö, Sweden
Translation Fredrik Tobin

Buxtehude Organ Works—Hans Davidsson (7 CDs total)

Includes:
Volume 1: Buxtehude and the Mean-Tone Organ (2 CDs)
Volume 2: The Bach Perspective (2 CDs)
Volume 3: Buxtehude and the Schnitger Organ (3 CDs)

North German Baroque Organ, Gothenburg, Sweden

Recent research shows that Buxtehude had only mean-tone organs at his disposal during his life. Although there are many good recordings on well-tempered organs (including some antiques), performing these works on mean-tone instruments requires both a radical re-assessment of traditional performance ideas and a large and extraordinary organ. Hans Davidsson is the ideal performer for this task, and he plays the huge “North German Baroque Organ” of Gothenburg, Sweden. The complete organ works are recorded here in three volumes totaling seven compact discs.

Hans Davidsson on YouTube

2011-03-01T10:34:00.000-08:00

We've been talking about Hans Davidsson and the Complete Organ Works of Buxtehude a lot lately, so today we thought it would be fun to share some videos of Hans Davidsson we came across on YouTube.

Enjoy:

Get Dale Warland's most popular album Free with $20 Purchase

2011-02-28T09:02:00.000-08:00

Free with every order of $20 or more
The Grammy-nominated Dale Warland Singers’ most popular album

Gothic Records G-49243
Click here to hear samples and read more

We will add this CD to your order automatically
To qualify, your order must total $20 (including shipping)!

Offer good until midnight March 1, 2011

The Organ Loft - Be Still, My Soul & Bach Mass in F

2011-02-25T11:55:00.000-08:00

The Organ Loft - February 27, 2011
Be Still, My Soul & Bach Mass in F
Webcast and Broadcast Schedule

This week on the Organ Loft you'll hear selections from “Be Still My Soul”, a recent disc from the choir of All Saints Beverly Hills, and Bach’s Mass in F with the Washington Bach Consort.

Program

Percy Whitlock: "Be Still, My Soul“¹
Harold Friedell: "Jesus, so lowly“¹
Gabriel Fauré: Cantique de Jean Racine¹
J.S. Bach: O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig, S. 656²
F. Melius Christiansen: Lamb of God³
J.S. Bach: Mass in F major, BWV 233⁴

Recordings Used:

“Be Still, My Soul” Choir of All Saints’ Church, Beverly Hills, CA, Dale Adelmann, conductor, Craig Phillips, organist, Gothic G-49251
“The Leipzig Chorales/J.S. Bach” Christa Rakich, organ; Loft LRCD-1078-79
“Eternity” National Lutheran Choir, David Cherwien, director, NLCA02022 (available from The Gothic Catalog)
“The Bach Masses, v.1” Washington Bach Consort, Reilly Lewis, dir. Loft LRCD-1068

1. “Be Still, My Soul” Choir of All Saints’ Church, Beverly Hills, CA, Dale Adelmann, conductor, Craig Phillips, organist, Gothic G-49251

2. “The Leipzig Chorales/J.S. Bach” Christa Rakich, organ; Loft LRCD-1078-79

3. “Eternity” National Lutheran Choir, David Cherwien, director, NLCA02022 (available from The Gothic Catalog)

4. “The Bach Masses, v.1” Washington Bach Consort, Reilly Lewis, dir. Loft LRCD-1068

Listen Online:

KING-FM Seattle's Classical Choice — Sundays at 10:00 PM

OREGON: KWAX-FM and the University of Oregon radio network — Sundays at 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM

Out of Stock or Out of Print? Here are some options

2011-02-24T09:48:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wanted a recording from any of the labels in The Gothic Catalog, and it's either out of print or out of stock? Well, we have some suggestions for you.

ArkivMusic is stocking out of print releases from both Gothic Records and Loft Recordings. Here are links to these albums:

Gothic Records
Loft Recordings

These include such favorites as:
The Riverside Years / Frederick Swann
Frederick Swann Plays Two Organs By Reuter
Marches / Douglas Major
L'organiste Parisien (1864-1999) - Franck, Et Al / Adam
The Young Bach / Harald Vogel
The Shapenote Album / Doug Fullington, Tudor Choir
Clemens Non Papa: Requiem, Motets / Fullington, Tudor Choir
And many more...

And, if the album you're looking for is simply out of stock, make sure to send us an email at info@gothic-catalog.com. You can also check ClassicsOnline for the CD, or if it's not in stock there either, you can download the MP3s there as well. Here are the links to our recordings on ClassicsOnline:

Gothic Records
Loft Recordings
Clarion Records
ReZound
Quilisma
Washington National Cathedral

Reviews for the Complete Organ Works of Buxtehude

2011-02-23T09:01:00.000-08:00

"Audiophile Best Find" of 2007, "Classical Lost and Found (CLOFO.com) http://www.clofo.com/

"Davidsson is a very musical player with a virtuosic flair well suited to this music. The phrasing in the chorale preludes is exquisitely sensitive. His interpretation of the Passacaglia is one of the best I’ve heard. This is an outstanding recording from every point of view. Bravo!"
—American Record Guide

STAR RECORDING (Record of the month)
(review of both Volumes 1 and 2)

"It is difficult to know where to begin with these four CDs. This is a monumental recording in all sorts of ways. It is special because of the mean-tone tuning and the effect that this has on the music and the way it sounds. While we cannot be sure how the music would have sounded originally, the Baroque Organ project led by GOArt and sited in the Örgryte nya kyrka has done so much to foster interest in, and knowledge of, organ building at the time. It is good that we now have these recordings so that we can hear for ourselves.

There are some delicious sounds throughout – partly the registers, partly the tuning – often challenging the listener, especially when the choice of stops is not what we might think of today – as for example playing fugues on reed stops in a kind of Grand Jeu. But it is the vast range of colour that is most impressive, including a delightful cymbelstern. The CDs use the ULSI recording technique, which certainly gives the listener a feeling of intimacy and contact with player and instrument and adds much to the overall quality of the recordings.

The second two CD set focusses on music which JS Bach and his circle studied, shared and admired. There is thus an added fascination when listening to these pieces for the insight that they give with regard to later organ music.

Hans Davidsson – such a fine player, especially in this context – is to be congratulated, as are all the team involved. The sleeve notes are full and well produced, though there is also a significant amount of additional material, including notes on each piece and a complete listing of all registrations used at www.gothic-catalog.com. These CDs are most highly recommended, and have to be a star recording of star recordings as far as I am concerned; they are an absolute must to buy." —The Organ (UK)

Classical Lost and Found:

"Strange and wondrous sounding things happen when you hear early Baroque organ music performed on a mean-tone tempered instrument like the one here. That's because this method of tuning produces pure major thirds, which were all the rage in Dieterich Buxtehude's day (1637-1707) as they were thought to be the musical equivalent of "heavenly harmony." Not only that, but they intensify the contrast between consonances and dissonances in music thereby giving it greater emotional impact. So it's quite likely this is what you would have heard at the prestigious St. Mary's Church in Lubeck, Germany, when the composer was organist there. However, these "heavenly thirds" come at a cost, because pieces in certain keys can sound harsh or even dissonant on mean-tone instruments. So steps must be taken to ameliorate these incompatibilities. The most radical solution is to transpose the work in question to a more listener-friendly key, and in Buxtehude’s day organists did this all the time. Besides transposition though, there are several other ways to accomplish this. For instance, the organ for this recording has additional sub-semitone black keys and pedals just for this purpose (see the excellent album notes for an explanation and picture of them). These are necessitated by the fact that accidentals like d-sharp and e-flat, which are the same identical note and represented by just one black key on a conventionally tuned instrument, must take on slightly different pitches on a mean-tone one in order to minimize the problems mentioned above. Additionally the performer can downplay dissonant notes by shortening their length, camouflaging them with ornaments and/or even opting for leaner registrations that make them less apparent.

The highly versatile and talented soloist here, Hans Davidsson, uses every trick at his disposal to come up with some of the most colorful Baroque music that ever emanated from an organ pipe. As a matter of fact, after you've heard this album, Buxtehude on a conventionally tuned instrument comes off sounding rather drab! The one Davidsson plays here is located in Gothenberg, Sweden and it’s absolutely spectacular. That’s because it’s a modern day synthesis of the finest North German Baroque instruments from such builders as the great Arp Schnitger. Not only that, but this is one of the best sounding recordings of "The Pope of Instruments" to come along in some time. It utilizes Erik Sikkema's new ULSI recording technology, which does for church spaces what Ray Kimber's IsoMike does for the concert hall (see the 17 February 2007 newsletter). Accordingly, audiophiles who love organ music must have this release, and are encouraged to read about ULSI. (click here for details)

Musically, artistically and sonically producer Roger Sherman has a “Triple Crown” winner with this, the first of three albums from Loft Recordings devoted to the composer's complete organ works a la mean-tone. This one contains all of his better known ones, so it's perfect for those wanting a single highlights album. However, a word of warning, after you hear it, you may well find "you can't eat just one!" Those desiring more detailed information about what’s included can find it on the new, beautifully appointed Gothic Web Site."

-- Bob McQuiston, Classical Lost and Found (CLOFO.com)
www.CLOFO.COM

Buxtehude Organ Works—Hans Davidsson (7 CDs total)

Includes:
Volume 1: Buxtehude and the Mean-Tone Organ (2 CDs)
Volume 2: The Bach Perspective (2 CDs)
Volume 3: Buxtehude and the Schnitger Organ (3 CDs)

North German Baroque Organ, Gothenburg, Sweden

Recent research shows that Buxtehude had only mean-tone organs at his disposal during his life. Although there are many good recordings on well-tempered organs (including some antiques), performing these works on mean-tone instruments requires both a radical re-assessment of traditional performance ideas and a large and extraordinary organ. Hans Davidsson is the ideal performer for this task, and he plays the huge “North German Baroque Organ” of Gothenburg, Sweden. The complete organ works are recorded here in three volumes totaling seven compact discs.

William Porter Plays Bach

2011-02-21T15:08:00.000-08:00

Just in case you missed Sunday's Organ Loft broadcast, here's a taste of what you would have heard:

Make sure to tune in next week (click for listening information).

Bach: One of a Kind
William Porter, organist
Fritts organ, Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, Washington

This is the first nationally released CD recorded on the new Paul Fritts organ at PLU. Fritts' magnum opus, this spectacular organ has 54 stops/ 80 ranks on three manuals. The pedal division includes a full length 32' Posuane as well as a 32' Subbass. The combination of one of the finest organ builders and organists in the United States, 24-bit recording technology, and Lagerquist Hall's four-second reverberation time, make this CD a must-have!

Our number one selling Bach organ CD.

"Star Recording!" Recording of the month, The Organ magazine, UK

"This disk is highly recommended as one of the best single Bach organ recording I've heard in quite a while. An organ recording for Bach lovers."—BachCantatas.com

Buy the CD from The Gothic Catalog.

Listen to samples and download mp3s from ClassicsOnline.

The Organ Loft - Byrd Mass in 4 Voices, Bach and Franck

2011-02-18T13:08:00.000-08:00

The Organ Loft - February 20, 2011
Byrd Mass in 4 Voices, Bach and Franck
Webcast and Broadcast Schedule

This week on The Organ Loft, we feature the Mass for four voices by William Byrd, Frank's Chorale in A minor, and two works by Bach.

Program

J.S. Bach: Fugue in E minor, BWV 548¹
William Byrd: Mass for four voices²
J.S. Bach: Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend, BWV 709¹
Cesar Franck: Chorale no. 3 in A minor³

Recordings Used:

“J.S. Bach: One of a Kind” William Porter, LOFT LRCD-1025
“William Byrd: The Three Masses” Tallis Scholars, Peter Phillips, director Gimmel CDGIM 345
“Gallic in Greensboro” Andre Lash, organ, Pro Organo CD 7213

Listen Online:

KING-FM Seattle's Classical Choice — Sundays at 10:00 PM

OREGON: KWAX-FM and the University of Oregon radio network — Sundays at 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM

Joan Lippincott - Bach

2011-02-17T11:59:00.000-08:00

Joan Lippincott marked a few milestones recently. First, she celebrated her 75th Birthday, and second she celebrated 30 Years of recordings on Gothic Records.

Her "celebration" album was the J.S. Bach Concerto Transcriptions recording on the Paul Fritts Organ, Opus 20 at Princeton Theological Seminary. The recording features Lippincott's own dazzling transcription of the Bach/Vivaldi concerto for four harpsichords.

Gothic Records has celebrated the milestone by issuing The Joan Lippincott Bach Collection on Gothic featuring 8 CDs.

Make sure to check out our video from The Organ Loft episode "Celebrating Joan Lippincott":

Buxtehude Organ Works - Complete Set (7CDs)

2011-02-16T11:17:00.000-08:00

Buxtehude Organ Works - Hans Davidsson (7 CDs Total)

Volume 1: Buxtehude and the Mean-Tone Organ (2 CDs)
Volume 2: The Bach Perspective (2 CDs)
Volume 3: Buxtehude and the Schnitger Organ (3 CDs)

Recent research shows that Buxtehude had only mean-tone organs at his disposal during his life. Although there are many good recordings on well-tempered organs (including some antiques), performing these works on mean-tone instruments requires both a radical re-assessment of traditional performance ideas and a large and extraordinary organ. Hans Davidsson is the ideal performer for this task, and he plays the huge “North German Baroque Organ” of Gothenburg, Sweden. The complete organ works are recorded here in three volumes totaling seven compact discs.

Dieterich Buxtehude and His Organ Music

Diderich “Hansen” Buxtehude (1637–1707) was born in Denmark, and was active as an organist, composer, and cultural entrepreneur in Denmark and Sweden as well as in Germany where he became known as Dieterich Buxtehude. His father, Johannes (Hans) Buxtehude, who started his career as organist in Helsingborg but soon moved to Helsingør, taught Dieterich the foundations of organ playing and introduced him to Johan Lorentz, Jr., the famous organist at St. Nicolai in Copenhagen. It is possible that Dieterich studied with Lorentz or that he was sent to Franz Tunder in Lübeck or Heinrich Scheidemann or, perhaps, Matthias Weckman in Hamburg (although we have no evidence for this). In 1657, he became organist in St. Mary’s church in Helsingborg and, in 1660, he assumed the same responsibility at St. Mary’s in Helsingør. When Franz Tunder died on the 5th of November 1667, the attractive position at St. Mary’s in Lübeck became vacant. In April of 1668, Buxtehude succeeded Tunder there and was formally appointed organist and Werkmeister. This prestigious position in the significant Hanseatic League city of Lübeck became the primary arena for his activities as organist, composer, chief administrator, and cultural entrepreneur for the next forty years.

Buxtehude continued Tunder’s concerts for the opening of the stock market, and further developed them into a series of “Abendmusiken” that occurred after the Vespers on the last two Sundays of Trinity and the second, third, and fourth Sundays of Advent. These soon- famous “Abendmusiken” were directed from the large organ. With its six surrounding balconies it could accommodate about forty singers and musicians, which presented an amazing visual effect and created a magnificent acoustical and symbolic representation of the “Macrocosm,” the music of the heavenly choirs and the medieval concept of the harmony of the spheres. The large ensemble performed new music by Buxtehude and other important composers in the Italian-German concerto or multi-choral style. Like Matthias Weckman with his Collegium Musicum in Hamburg (1660-1674), Buxtehude developed a significant forum for the performance of new music, previously reserved for relatively small audiences at courts, and created a new public function and demand for this representative music in the core of the Hanseatic city culture. The many manuscripts of his music, of central German to Scandinavian origin, bear witness to the Abendmusiken’s significant influence. The collection is the largest body of organ, vocal and instrumental music of any musician active in Northern Europe in the seventeenth century. Truly a musicus perfectus, Buxtehude composed vocal, instrumental, and keyboard music of all categories, and in his music we find such a variety of styles and genres that we must inevitably approach his work from a general cultural perspective; the organ music, in particular, must be viewed through the lens of the monumental organs of the cities of the Hanseatic League.

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Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T08:19:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day

To celebrate, here is one of our fantastic choral releases featuring World Premier Recordings of Randall Thompson's "Five Love Songs". Enjoy one of these "The Happy Shore" courtesy of The Organ Loft.

The Light of Stars
The Choral Music of Randall Thompson
Choral Arts, directed by Richard Sparks

Randall Thompson is one of the most important American composers of choral music. Writing in an unabashed Romantic style, this music is ideal for a choir like Choral Arts, which prides themselves in purity and breadth of choral sound.

This recording contains Thompson’s “Alleluia,” probably the most popular American choral work ever written, as well as six works never before recorded.

The Best of Rooms (Robert Herrick)

Two Herbert Settings (George Herbert)

Antiphon *
Bitter-sweet

The Last Invocation (Walt Whitman)

Odes of Horace

Montium custos (book 3, 22)
Vitas hinnuleo (book 1, 23)
O fons Bandusiae (book 3, 13)
Felices ter (final verse of book 1, 13)

Alleluia

Five Love Songs

The Light of Stars (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow) *
The Passenger (Mark Anthony DeWolfe Howe) *
Two Worlds (Edmund Waller) *
Siciliano (Philip H. Rhinelander) *
The Happy Shore (Edmund Spenser) *

*World Premier Recordings

Purchase the "Light of Stars" CD from The Gothic Catalog.

Samples and Downloads of "Light of Stars" are available on ClassicsOnline.com.

The Organ Loft - David Higgs plays the new Pasi organ in Houston

2011-02-11T12:13:00.000-08:00

The Organ Loft - February 13, 2011
David Higgs plays the new Pasi Organ in Houston
Webcast and Broadcast Schedule

Op. 19, of Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart
Houston, TX

This week on The Organ Loft, we have our second program featuring the new Martin Pasi organ at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Houston. This week featured organist is David Higgs, chair of the organ department at Eastman, and he plays three large works, in concert. Martin builds organs in the Pacific Northwest, and you can find pictures and links to the organ at his website http://www.pasiorgans.com.

Program

J.S. Bach: Passacaglia in c minor, BWV 582
César Franck: Pièce Héroïque
Julius Reubke: The Ninety-fourth Psalm

Recordings Used:
Live recording, supplied by Martin Pasi and used with permission of David Higgs.

Here's a video of the organ:

Here's the link to the organ's own page on the Cathedral's website.

Listen Online:

KING-FM Seattle's Classical Choice — Sundays at 10:00 PM

OREGON: KWAX-FM and the University of Oregon radio network — Sundays at 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM

Valentine's Day - Evening Wind

2011-02-09T12:14:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and we have a wonderful album to share that will make any Valentine's Day celebration even better.

Evening Wind
Choral Music of J.A.C. Redford
Los Angeles Chamber Singers (Grammy winner!)
Peter Rutenberg, Conductor

Evening Wind is a new collection of Choral Music by J.A.C. Redford. With texts by E. E. Cummings and William Wordsworth, this music weaves starswept skies and sunflecked seas around the theme of love.

J.A.C. Redford is an accomplished composer of concert, chamber and choral music, whose works have been performed by Cantus, The Debussy Trio, Los Angeles Chamber Singers, Los Angeles Master Choral, St. Martin's Chamber Choir, Utah Chamber Artists and Utah Symphony. In films, Redford is best known for scores to The Trip to Bountiful, Oliver & Company, and Newsies, as well as the television series Coach and St. Elsewhere for which he received Emmy® nominations.

The Los Angeles Chamber Singers have been one of L.A.'s premier ensembles for 16 years. This brilliant choral organization guided by Peter Rutenberg, specializes in contemporary choral literature and works closely with Los Angeles composers to develop and encourage new repertoire. Evening Wind is their fifth release, their first for the Clarion Label.

“Upon hearing a performance of Love is the Only Every God, I was struck by the evocative, colorful settings of these E. E. Cummings texts. This is music that every college/professional conductor should know.” —Jerry McCoy, University of North Texas

Listen to Samples, and download mp3s at ClassicsOnline.com

Purchase the CD from The Gothic Catalog & Save!
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Program:

Evening Wind (2005)
Napili Bay, 2PM (2002)
Love is the Every Only God (2001)

Love is the Every Only God
First Interlude
What Time is it?
Lady Will You Come With Me
Second Interlude
White Guardians
Now that, More Nearest
Silently If

Night Pieces (2004)

How Beautiful the Queen of Night
A Night-Piece
The Sun Has Long Been Set

Love Never Fails (1997)

"The Dream Keeper" from Mornings Like This

2011-02-07T15:02:00.000-08:00

If you missed this Sunday's broadcast of The Organ loft, don't despair. You can still listen to William Averitt's "The Dream Keeper" in our newest Organ Loft YouTube Video:

The Organ Loft - Spirituals and Averitt's The Dream Keeper

2011-02-04T13:04:00.000-08:00

The Organ Loft - February 6, 2011
Spirituals and Averitt's The Dream Keeper
Webcast and Broadcast Schedule

February is Black History month, and we begin this month with spirituals and a suite by William Averitt of the poetry of Langston Hughes. Also, this week we'll hear a rarely heard version of the Frank Fantasie in C and a performance of a concerto by Leopold Mozart played on trumpet and organ at King's College in Cambridge.

Program

Spiritual: “ In His Care – O”¹
Spiritual: “There is a Balm in Gilead”¹
Spiritual: “Eve’ry Time I Feel the Spirit”¹
Cesar Franck: Fantasie in C Major (Version III)²
Leopold Mozart: Concerto in E Flat³
William Averitt: The Dream Keeper (2009)⁴

The Dream Keeper
Dream Variations
As I Grew Older
Song

Spiritual: “Ezekiel Saw de Wheel”¹

Recordings Used:

“The Spirituals of William L. Dawson” St. Olaf Choir, Anton Armstrong, conductor; St. Olaf Records E-2159
“A Fantasy through Time” Kimberly Marshall, Loft LRCD-1108
“The King’s Trumpeter: Music for Trumpet and Organ from King’s College, Cambridge” Crispian Steele Perkins, trumpet, Stephen Cleobury, organ; Priory PRCD 189
“Mornings Like This” Choral Arts, Robert Bode, director; Gothic G-49273

Listen Online:

KING-FM Seattle's Classical Choice — Sundays at 10:00 PM

OREGON: KWAX-FM and the University of Oregon radio network — Sundays at 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM

See Frederick Swann in Concert!

2011-02-02T08:10:00.000-08:00

Click to view larger version

Frederick Swann will be live in concert at the Church of Good Shepherd in Arcadia, California on Sunday, February 13th at 3pm! The concert is to dedicate the newly installed Rogers 5-Manual Masterpieces Series Classical Organ, the largest digital drawknob organ on the West Coast.

An incredible series of events has led to the installation of the largest all-digital drawknob organ in California - and it happened virtually overnight. Reverend Dr. Philip Bertolo Wood serves as Senior Pastor, a position he has held since 1996. Timothy Durkovic is Director of Music, Principal Organist and Carol Choir Director. The music ministry involves over 130 people. In 2010, a new 3-manual Rodgers organ was installed in the Chapel chancel area. and Antiphonal Division and Festival Trumpet were mounted high in the rear to great aural effect. The results in the Chapel were so successful that the church developed a renewed and immediate interest in installing a new organ in the Sanctuary. Through a generous donation, funds were immediately available and plans were made for the installation of a new 5-manual Rodgers in time for Easter - just two weeks away.

The Masterpiece organ selected for the Sanctuary is a state-of-the-art digital instrument that is equivalent to 195 pipe ranks, larger than any other all-digital drawknob instrument in Southern California, according to Dr. Robert Tall. A handsome dark oak casework for the rear gallery is under construction and will be installed mid-summer. The new casework will be visually pleasing with its new facade pipes and a new flamed copper Trumpet en Chamade. The existing Moller pipe organ served the congregation well, but it was in need of rebuilding and was not adequate for the size of the building. The church opted not to incorporate the Moller instrument into the new organ. Instead, the pipes were removed and given to several organ builders to be reused in local projects.

Frederick L. Swann (born 1931) is a prominent Americam church and concert organist, recording artist, choral conductor, and former president of the American Guild of Organists (2002–2008). During his career spanning more than a half-century, he has performed on most of the well-known pipe organs in the world and made numerous compact disc recordings.[1] Swann has been called "one of the country's most distinguished organists".[2] He is Organist Emeritus of the Crystal Cathedral and the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles. He has appeared at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, St. Paul's Cathedral in London; and Passau Cathedral in Germany. He played the inaugural concert of the 6,125-pipe organ of the Los Angeles Philharmonic at Walt Disney Concert Hall.[5]

The Los Angeles Times called Swann's playing "Splendid, probing, brilliant and entertaining ... As always, Swann is an inspiration". Baltimore Sun music critic Tim Smith has called him "one of the country's most distinguished organists".
For further information, please visit the church website at www.goodshepherdarcadia.org and call Timothy Durkovic, Music Director, at 626-447-2181.

If you are unable to make it to this great concert, make sure and check out our Frederick Swann recordings on The Gothic Catalog!

Also, to listen to samples and download Frederick Swann recordings, visit ClassicsOnline.com!

In Case You Missed The Organ Loft

2011-02-01T08:54:00.000-08:00

In case you missed last Sunday's Organ Loft program, we thought we would at least give you a sample of what you would have heard:

Make sure you get your copy of Mendelssohn Organ Sonatas featuring Jonathan Dimmock!

Mendelssohn Organ Sonatas
Holzhey Organ (1787)
Abbey church of Weißenau, Germany
Jonathan Dimmock, organist

Recorded on the spectacular Holzhey organ at Weißenau Abbey (Bavaria)—an organ which Mendelssohn loved—these Sonatas synthesize Baroque and Classical style with Romantic sentiment, establishing the musical vocabulary later used by Schumann, Brahms and Liszt.

“Dimmock's recording succeeds in illustrating Mendelssohn's lineage to the great Bach tradition with extremely persuasive performances of the six organ sonatas." —Choir and Organ

January Organ Recordings Sale Ends Monday!

2011-01-28T09:40:00.000-08:00

Since it's Friday, and we won't have a chance to send you reminders over the weekend, we wanted to take today to give you one last reminder that the Organ CD Sale ends on Monday! You don't want to miss out on this:

In Memoriam: Edward A. Hansen - Concert Recordings

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A former AGO national president, Dr. Edward A. Hansen was a respected performer and teacher who made lasting contributions to the American organ music community. This recording pays tribute to his memory with excerpts from live recitals given by Dr. Hansen. Includes the first recording of Alma Oncley's Passacaglia.

How Excellent is Thy Name/Marshall & Conzius

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"This recording honors the Jewish liturgical tradition of cantor with organ-- and a rising star of American cantors. The historic 1901 Murray Harris organ at Stanford University is the perfect instrument for this music, which is concentrated in the latter half of the 19th and early 20th centuries."

Sienese Splendor/Marshall

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The sounds of this sixtennth-century Italian organ establish a tangible link to th emusical culture of the Italian Renaissance. Located in Siena, the 1519 Piffaro organ has a beautiful, gentle, vocal sound that is ideal for this music. Organist Kimberly Marshall plays these delightful gems on this, her most popular recording.

In Recital at Lagerquist Hall/Bates

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Robert Bates' recital took place on July 4 during the AGO 2000 Convention on the monumental organ built by Paul Fritts and Company for Lagerquist Hall at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington. Works from the German Baroque and the late 20th century are featured, including works by Buxtehude, Scheidt, Bach, Pärt, and Bates' own compositions.

Four Masterworks/Swann

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Frederick Swann is one of the best-known, and best-loved organists in America. He has been organist of The Riverside Church in New York City and The Crystal Cathedral in California, as well as President of the American Guild of Organists. In this recording he demonstrates the huge Crystal Cathedral organ with four landmark works by Mendelssoh, Bach, Franck and Wright.

John Weaver Performs....

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John Weaver, one of the America’s finest concert organists, was Director of Music at Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City from 1970-2005. He was Head of the Organ Department at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia from 1972 to 2003, and also Chair of the Organ Department at The Juilliard School from 1987 to 2004. Here he plays a varied program, including some rarely heard works by Leighton and Bingham. His program concludes with his own Fantasia for Organ.

Michael Farris at SMU

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Completed just after the large organ at the Meyerson Symphony Center (home of the Dallas Symphony), the Fisk at SMU shares many of the same characteristics that have made Fisk the leading builder of concert hall organs.

The organist is Michael Farris, who was on the organ faculty of the Eastman School of Music when he died tragically in his early 40's. Farris won three national performance competitions including the MTNA Collegiate Artists Competition in 1976, the Ft. Wayne Competition in 1985, and the National Young Artist Competition of the American Guild of Organists in 1986 and was one of the brightest "organ" stars of his generation.

In Dulci Jubilo/Grogan

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Robert Grogan plays the massive Möller organ at the largest Catholic church in the United States.

Preston Plays Duruflé‚ & Widor

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The resident organist of the Dallas Symphony demonstrates her intimate knowledge of the Fisk company's Opus 100, one of the most important organs built in the 20th century. With a wide variety of French sounding resources at her disposal, Preston plays three large suites written for the French symphonic organ.

Organ Music of Franz Liszt/Sutherland

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The 1994 Lively-Fulcher organ includes significant amounts of pipework from the church's original 1895 Carl Barckhoff. Two 16-foot choruses on the manuals, plus a solo division with Bombarde's and cornet, and a full pedal with two 32-foot stops provide the gravitas required by Liszt's organ works.

Head of the organ faculty at Peabody, Donald Sutherland is a Liszt expert, and renders this repertoire with drama and excitment. The addition of Lizst's Cujus animan (a transcription Rossini's Stabat mater) for trombone and organ is a delicious bonus. Generous acoustics put it all together in this superb recording.

Masterpieces from St Mary Virgin NYC/Kyler Brown

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The former Music Director of St Mary the Virgin plays a brilliant recital on the church's 1933 Aeolian-Skinner organ - one of the first instruments that could be described as an "American Classic" design. The organ was revised, with substantial changes in the number of divisions, by G. Donald Harrison in 1942. The highly reverberant acoustics of St Mary's enhance the organ's tonal pallet, which bears strong French Romantic influences.

Mary Preston at The Meyerson

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In her second recording as resident organist at the Meyerson, Mary Preston presents a Germanic program which provides a wide variety of sounds and textures. The landmark Fisk organ at the Meyerson is in an adjustable acoustic which can be optimized for solo organ concerts and recordings, giving the organ sound elegance and lyrical flexibility.

German Romantic Organ Music/Parkins

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University organist Robert Parkins plays both large organs of Duke University Chapel. The Flentrop tracker organ in the rear gallery is ideal for the early Romantic elegance of Mendelssohn, and the lyracism of Rheinberger, which the Aeolian organ in the chancel provides the gravitas necessary for Liszt. An imaginative program that combines two large organs of contrasting style.

Frederick Swann in Hawaii, v.2

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In this second recording made in Hawaii, Frederick Swann is joined by harpist Nyle Hallman, who also is the Organist and Assistant Director of the Choirs at Central Union Church. The 68-rank organ at the church contains pipework from the original 1924 E. M. Skinner and the 1966 Aeolian-Skinner organ. In 1995, Austin Organs reworked the instrument, added ranks and building a new console.

As always, Swann has crafted a program to please, beginning with Bach's great Toccata in D minor.

Masterworks by Bach/Major

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Large-scale Bach works are featured here on a large organ in one of the largest churches in the hemisphere. Grand!

French Masterpieces

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Franck and Widor established French Romantic organ work. Franck's Grande pièce symphonique was the first to use the term "symphony"; Widor's fifth symphony is perhaps the most famous work of the genre, and concludes with his ever-popular Toccata. The works of both composers are well-suited to the grand, Gothic space of the National Cathedral.

Judith Hancock/St. Thomas Church, NYC

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Judith Hancock has earned an enviable reputation as a performer of Romantic music. In this recording she contrasts the Antiphons of Dupré, first improvised at a vespers service in 1919 at Notre Dame, with the supremely challenging music of Czech composer, Petr Eben.

Alan Morrison at Sacred Heart

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Alan Morrison plays the massive Schantz organ (154 ranks, 9513 pipes) at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark. With a broad variety of available sounds, Morrison creates long, dynamic crescendo's and soaring melodies which brings this program to life.

David Higgs at Riverside

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David's Higgs is Professor of Organ at the Eastman School of Music, and widely admired for both his extraordinary technique, but his ability to communicate to audiences. This unusual program at The Riverside Church includes rarely played works by jazz pianist, George Shearing, David Conte, Alain and William Bolcom, but is anchored by barn-burning favorites by Mendelssohn, and Franck, concluding with a thrilling performance of the Duruflé Suite.

The January Organ Recordings Sale Has Five More Days!

2011-01-26T11:03:00.000-08:00

Our January Organ Recordings sale is going strong, and you still have FIVE more days to save! Check out the kinds of savings we have going on:

Great Organ of Washington National Cathedral/Major

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Douglas Major plays spectacular large-scale works and a transcription of Handel's famous Water Music suite on the large organ of the National Cathedral. Recently repressed by popular demand!

Mary Preston, In Concert!

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One of America's leading organists plays in concert on one of America's largest and most important organs -- the landmark Opus 100 of the C.B. Fisk organ company. Called upon repeatedly to perform at the national conventions of the American Guild of Organists, Mary Preston has flawless technique and an elegant style to communicates to the listener. The encore also reveals that she has a sense of humor...

Preludes & Postludes for the year beginning 9-11-2001/Ferré

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Presented here are some of the organ works which were played by Susan Ferré during services at Pacific Lutheran University, from the first day of classes on September 11, through the year for more than 130 services, to the triumphant sending forth of Pentecost Sunday and Commencement Worship on May 26th, 2002.

Equipped with one of the finest organs in the world, Lagerquist Hall provided the means for a wide range of musical expression during this unusual musical, and liturgical year.

Maurice & Marie-Madeleine Duruflé at the National Shrine

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Recorded in 1967, this historic recital is the premiere recording of the Basilica's two large organs, built by the Möller. The recording is full of important moments: the transcription of a Handel organ concerto played as a duet on the two instruments, Maurice Duruflé's transcription of Tournemire's improvisation on Victimae Pascali, played by Mme. Duruflé. The concert concludes with Maurice Duruflé's Prelude and Fugue on the name of Alain (again, played by Mme. Duruflé). Those looking to find an example of authentic French organ playing need look no further.

Festival of Nine Lessons/St. John's Cathedral Denver/Pearson

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Donald Pearson directs the Cathedral Choir, Boys & Girls Choir and instrumentalists in a unique version of the traditional "Lessons and Carols" liturgy.

Bach: One of a Kind/Porter

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This is the first nationally released CD recorded on the new Paul Fritts organ at PLU. Fritts' magnum opus, this spectacular organ has 54 stops/ 80 ranks on three manuals. The pedal division includes a full length 32' Posuane as well as a 32' Subbass. The combination of one of the finest organ builders and organists in the United States, 24-bit recording technology, and Lagerquist Hall's four-second reverberation time, make this CD a must-have! Our number one selling Bach organ CD.

Lippincott/Philadelphia Brass

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The virtuoso brass ensemble, Philadelphia Brass join organist Joan Lippincott at the large Mander organ of Princeton University Chapel in this grand recording, animated by a large acoustical space.

Complete Works of Weckman/Hans Davidssohn (3 CDs!)

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All components make this the ultimate organ CD, with two booklets comprising 56-pages of detailed information on registrations, the organ, Weckman, and his music. Organist of the Jacobi Church in Hamburg, Matthias Weckman (sometimes spelled Weckmann) was a student of Heinrich Schütz and Jacob Praetorius II. He combined elements from a wide variety of musical languages to create a clear and complex style all his own. Hans Davidsson is the world's leading Weckman scholar and this recording is the first to use Weckman's original registrations.

Mozart for Four Hands and Feet/Ciofini & Verges

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This CD offers up a true European community of forces: Salzburgian music, performed by a Spaniard and an Italian at the same time, on a Spanish organ! This recording will transform the way you think about the organ, and about Mozart. If you?ve always considered the organ to be mainly a liturgical instrument, listen to these great symphonic works and then think again. Rediscover the majesty of these pieces as arranged for what Mozart himself called the "King of Instruments."

Michael Farris at SMU

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Fanfare/G. Hancock

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A master of improvisation in Anglican style plays the great organ of St Thomas Church in NYC. Also includes works by Bach, de Grigny, and Reger.

Christmas at Spivey Hall/Chenaults

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The Chenaults are known for commissioning imaginative arrangements of music for two organists. Here they reprise popular Christmas favorites on the Albert Schweitzer Memorial Pipe Organ (built by Ruffatti) in Spivey Hall near Atlanta. Includes "Sleight Ride", "Greensleeves", Carol of the Drum, Gesu Bambino, White Christmas and many others.

Frederick Swann Plays the Gillespie Concert Organ

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Best-known as the former organist of The Crystal Cathedral, Frederick Swann delivers the premiere recording of the new Fisk organ in Costa Mesa, CA. Swann plays a diverse program specifically chosen to showcase the wide and colorful tonal spectrum of this superb new organ.

Messiaen: Les Corps Glorieux/Colin Andrews

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Each of the seven movements of this powerful work presents a musical and theological statement, expressed in Messiaen’s unique musical vocabulary. The haunting opening creates a mystical, mantra-like atmosphere that lays the path for an hour of extraordinarily compelling music. Colin Andrews, a large Fisk organ, and the acoustics of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Greenville, NC, are the ideal ensemble for Messiaen’s mystical masterpiece.

Upcoming New Hans Davidsson Recording!

2011-01-24T11:25:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow our new recording featuring Loft Recordings organist Hans Davidsson will be released to the public! This new recording features the new Craighead-Saunders Organ of Christ Church, Rochester, and is the newest instrument in the collection at the Eastman School of Music. Hans Davidsson has many recordings on Loft, and as they are organ recordings, they are also currently on sale through January 31st! So, in anticipation of this new release tomorrow, make sure to revisit Hans Davidsson's previous releases on Loft Recordings:

The Eastman Italian Baroque organ/Porter, Davidsson, Higgs

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The only full-size Italian Baroque organ in North America, Eastman's newly installed and restored instrument reveals the exotic sounds of another culture and time. Played by three virtuosi of the school's faculty, the organ sounds as beautiful as it appears: a genuine work of art.

Complete Works of Weckman/Hans Davidssohn (3 CDs!)

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French Symphonic Masterpieces/Davidsson

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This recording of well-known French Romantic music is presented in the clarity of a chamber-music setting, much like the musical soiree performances at the Parisian salons in the 19th century. This style of performance is made possible by Verschueren's new French symphonic organ at Göteborg University (Sweden) in this, its first American recording.

Buxtehude organ works, v.1: Buxtehude and the Mean-Tone Organ/Davidsson (2 CDs!)

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Celebrating the 300^th anniversary of Buxtehude’s death in 2007!

Recent research shows that Buxtehude had only mean-tone organs at his disposal during his life. Although there are many good recordings on well-tempered organs (including some antiques), performing these works on mean-tone instruments requires both a radical re-assessment of traditional performance ideas and a large and extraordinary organ. Hans Davidsson is the ideal performer for this task, and he plays the huge “North German Baroque Organ” of Gothenburg, Sweden. The first of three double-CDs of the complete organ works of Buxtehude; Volume One focusses on Buxtehude's best known works.

Buxtehude Organ Works - Complete (7 CDs!)/Davidsson

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Recent research shows that Buxtehude had only mean-tone organs at his disposal during his life. Although there are many good recordings on well-tempered organs (including some antiques), performing these works on mean-tone instruments requires both a radical re-assessment of traditional performance ideas and a large and extraordinary organ. Hans Davidsson is the ideal performer for this task, and he plays the huge “North German Baroque Organ” of Gothenburg, Sweden. The complete organ works are recorded here in three volumes totaling 7 compact discs.

Buxtehude organ works, v.2: The Bach Perspective/Davidsson (2 CDs!)

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Drawn by reports of the acclaimed organist of the Mariankirche in Lübeck, Dieterich Buxtehude, the 20-year old J. S. Bach traveled almost 300 miles to hear Buxtehude’s music first hand. On the second in our three-volume set of the complete organ works of Buxtehude, Hans Davidsson plays the ground-breaking repertoire that was known to Bach and his circle, and which may have influenced his musical compositions and performance.

Buxtehude organ works, v.3: Buxtehude and the Schnitger Organ (3 CDs!)

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Buxtehude's visit with Arp Schnitger in Hamburg in 1687 began an association that lasted for many years and resulted in the building of the four-manual organ at the Cathedral in Lùbeck, as well as modifications to the organ at Saint Marien. Hans Davidsson explores the encounter between Buxtehude and Schnitger using the four-manual organ in Gothenburg, Sweden in this final volume of the complete works of Buxtehude.

The Organ Loft - Robert Bates Plays the New Pasi Organ in Houston

2011-01-21T13:47:00.000-08:00

The Organ Loft - January 23, 2011
Robert Bates plays the new Pasi Organ in Houston
Webcast and Broadcast Schedule

Op. 19, of Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart
Houston, TX

This week on The Organ Loft, we have an Exlusive! We will get to hear the large, new, organ at Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston, TX, built by Martin Pasi. This is an exclusive live recording of Robert Bates, supplied to us by the organ builder Martin Pasi and used with the permission of Robert Bates. Martin builds organs in the Pacific Northwest, and you can find pictures and links to the organ at his website http://www.pasiorgans.com!

Another special part about this week's show is that it includes Jehan Alain's piece Trois Dances. This year we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Jehan Alain's birth!

Program

Pierre Cochereau, transcribed by Jeremy Filsell: Scherzo symphonique
Buxtehude: Praeludium in C Major, Bux 137
Bach: Prelude and Fugue in A minor, BWV 543
Jehan Alain: Trois danses

Recordings Used:
Live recording, supplied by Martin Pasi and used with permission of Robert Bates.

Here's a video of the installation:

Here's the link to the organ's own page on the Cathedral's website.

Listen Online:

KING-FM Seattle's Classical Choice — Sundays at 10:00 PM

OREGON: KWAX-FM and the University of Oregon radio network — Sundays at 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM

Organ Sale - Huge Savings!

2011-01-20T10:22:00.000-08:00

We already told you about our Organ Sale that's going on right now and runs through January 31st, but today we wanted to give you an example of the huge savings you'll get during this sale!

Toccata in D Minor & Other Favorites
Fenner Douglass
Flenthrop Organ

This CD contains tracks from two of Gothic's most popular LP recordings of Fenner Douglass on the (then) new Flentrop organ of Duke University Chapel. Many organ favorites are recorded including Bach's Toccata in D minor, Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, and others. Douglass plays with an energetic style that is in complete harmony with the original musical aesthetic. The organ is outstanding and it is situated in a large Gothic church with generous acoustics.

If you know someone who might be interested in organ music, this CD is a good place to start.
List Price: $18.98
Sale Price: $2.98

Four Masterworks for Organ
Frederick Swann

Frederick Swann is one of the best-known, and best-loved organists in America. He has been organist of The Riverside Church in New York City and The Crystal Cathedral in California, as well as President of the American Guild of Organists. In this recording he demonstrates the huge Crystal Cathedral organ with four landmark works by Mendelssoh, Bach, Franck and Wright.

List Price: $18.98
Sale Price: $6.98

The Joan Lippincott Bach Collection on Gothic (8 discs!)

The Joan Lippincott Bach Set on Gothic! Includes eight of her highly acclaimed Bach recordings.

List Price: $178.82
Sale Price: $74.98
That's a savings of $103.84!

Introducing Gothic Catalog Customer Rewards!

2011-01-19T12:04:00.000-08:00

MyRewards - Reap the rewards with every purchase

We are excited to announce that when you purchase your albums from the Gothic Catalog, you'll receive points for the product(s) you purchase based on your total purchase amount. It's a great way to save on your next purchase whether it's for you or for an organ fanatic friend!

Here's how it works:

Once you've placed your order and it has shipped, your MyRewards Point will be redeemable.
To view your MyRewards, simply go to MyRewards.
Enter the total amount (in points) you'd like to redeem below (100 points = $1.00).
When you're done, a confirmation will be sent to your email address.
You're now ready to save on your next purchase. Upon placing your order, your available MyRewards will automatically be deducted from the total purchase amount.

(Nota bene: The system does not award points on purchases in which points are also redeemed.)

So, click here, register an account, and get to building up those reward points!

January Organ CD Sale!

2011-01-18T09:40:00.000-08:00

It's time for our January Organ CD Sale!!!

Every year in January we have an organ recording sale featuring our “in-house” labels.
Most of our organ CDs in this sale are less than $10.00!

Click here for a full list of sale items!

Hurry, Sale ends January 31, 2011

Here are some examples of the deals you can find:

The Joan Lippincott Bach Set
includes her newest release, “Concerto Transcriptions”
Eight Lippincott Bach recordings for a price of only $74.98

Fenner Douglass plays the Flentrop organ of Duke University Chapel
Toccata in D Minor and Other Favorites
Sale price $2.98

Robert Bates plays the Fritts organ at Pacific Lutheran University
Recorded live during the AGO 2000 national convention
Sale price $4.98

Martin Jean plays Tournemire’s Seven Last Words
Woolsey Hall, Yale University
Sale price $6.98

Peter Richard Conte
The Wanamaker Legacy
Sale price: $12.98

Don't miss out! Sale ends JANUARY 31st!

Upcoming New Release - The Craighead-Saunders Organ!

2011-01-17T09:02:00.000-08:00

We've got a new release coming out this month from Loft Recordings artist Hans Davidsson featuring the Craighead-Saunders Organ!

The Craighead-Saunders Organ
Hans Davidsson
David Higgs
William Porter

The Craighead-Saunders Organ in Christ Church, Rochester is the newest instrument in the collection at the Eastman School of Music. The organ is the result of an eight-year international research project documenting and copying the 1776 organ built by Adam Gottlob Casparini (1715-1788) in the Holy Ghost Church in Vilnius, Lithuania, one of the best preserved late-baroque organs in all of Europe. After a thorough documentation of the original instrument, a team from GOArt, at Gothenburg University in Sweden, led by Mats Arvidsson and Munetaka Yokota, worked closely with the Eastman School of Music and a group of some of the finest organbuilders in Americato produce the first research instrument after Casparini anywhere in the world, and the first large-scale historical reconstruction at this level in America. The instrument opens a new window on the aesthetics of the Enlightenment Era and on the organ music of a previously often ignored period, while at the same time helping us experience well-known repertoires from Bach to Mendelssohn in a new light.

Preorder this exciting new release on Amazon.com today!

The Gothic Catalog on ClassicsOnline!

2011-01-13T10:12:00.000-08:00

Just a reminder that though you'll get the best deal on CDs by purchasing direct from http://gothic-catalog.com, the best place to download albums and tracks from The Gothic Catalog or to listen to samples is at http://ClassicsOnline.com!

Check out the ENTIRE Gothic Catalog on ClassicsOnline.com (click image to visit the label on ClassicsOnline):

Music for Epiphany Organ Loft Recap

2011-01-10T11:46:00.001-08:00

In case you missed yesterday's broadcast of The Organ Loft, here's a bit of what you missed:

Make sure to tune in next week via:

KING-FM Seattle's Classical Choice — Sundays at 10:00 PM

OREGON: KWAX-FM and the University of Oregon radio network — Sundays at 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM

The Organ Loft - How Brightly Shines the Morning Star - Music of Epiphany and three Kings

2011-01-07T10:28:00.000-08:00

The Organ Loft - January 9, 2011
How Brightly Shines the Morning Star - Music of Epiphany and three Kings
Webcast and Broadcast Schedule

On Thursday we celebrated the Feast day of Epiphany, and Sunday marks the end of the Advent Season. So we are featuring our newest Epiphany album "How Brightly Shines the Morning Star" as well as other albums and works that embody the spirit of Epiphany.

Program

Samuel Scheidt: “Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern”, Timothy Roberts, organ¹
Michael Praetorius: “Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern”¹
D. Buxtehude: “Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern”, J. Melvin Butler, organ²
Leo Sowerby: “Now there lightens upon us”²
Anon: “We Three Kings”²
Ludwig Lenel: “Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern”, J. Melvin Butler, organ²
Jan Zwart: “O Heil’ge Geest dall op on sneer” (“Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern”), Roger Sherman, organ²
Mendelssohn: “Behold a Star from Jacob shining”²
Olivier Messiaen: Les Mages³
Peter Cornelius: Die Könige (Three Kings)⁴

Recordings Used:

“Praetorius: Mass for Christmas Morning” Gabrieli Consort and Players, Paul McCreesh,director. Archiv 439 250-2
“How Brightly Shines the Morning Star: Music for Epiphany” Saint Mark’s Cathedral Choir, J. Melvin Butler, director. Gothic G-49258
“Hommage à Messiaen” Colin Andrews, organ. Loft LRCD-1099
“Cornelius: The Three Kings and other choral music” Polyphony, Stephen Layton, director. Hyperion CDA67206

Listen Online:

KING-FM Seattle's Classical Choice — Sundays at 10:00 PM

OREGON: KWAX-FM and the University of Oregon radio network — Sundays at 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM

Happy Ephiphany!

2011-01-06T08:21:00.000-08:00

Happy Epiphany From The Gothic Catalog!
Celebrate this day of Feast Day with Music!

Although there are hundreds of Christmas music recordings, there are very few dedicated to the vibrant corpus of music for the season of Epiphany. The program in "How Brightly Shines the Morning Star" includes a wide variety of Epiphany music — some ancient, some modern, some familiar, some unfamiliar. The choir sings favorite hymns (“Songs of thankfulness and praise,” “We three kings,” “As with gladness men of old,” and “O wondrous type! O vision fair”) as well as less-familiar hymns (“When Jesus went to Jordan’s stream,” an early German chorale with text by Martin Luther; “Lord God, you now have set your servant free,” a metrical setting of the Song of Simeon by the English Renaissance composer Orlando Gibbons; “Alleluia, song of gladness,” based on a Gregorian chant but sung in a modern setting by the American composer Richard Proulx; and “O Light of Light, Love given birth,” by American composer Cary Ratcliff).

The German chorale Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern (“How brightly shines the morning star”) serves as a musical “theme” throughout the recording. This tune, attributed to the German composer Philipp Nicolai (1556-1608), has inspired composers throughout the ages and appears on this recording as the final section of Mendelssohn’s great anthem “Behold a star from Jacob shining” as well as in two settings found in the Episcopal Hymnal 1982.

The four organ solos are also based on this chorale. Dieterich Buxtehude, one of J. S. Bach’s mentors, contributes a delightful “chorale fantasy” exploiting the organ’s various colors and concluding with a lively jig. The chorale prelude by Dutch composer Jan Zwart treats the tune as a meditation, while German composer Helmut Walcha’s setting reveals a cheerful trio with the melody in the pedals. The final organ setting by American composer Ludwig Lenel (a godson of Albert Schweitzer) is a brilliant toccata, full of swirling keyboard passages surrounding the hymn tune, which also appears in the pedals here.

Other works on the program include seven motets and anthems—for which the texts are provided, below—spanning four centuries. Our selections from the twentieth century testify to the still-current appeal of the Epiphany theme. American composer Leo Sowerby proclaims the “holy daybreak” of Jesus’ “incarnation” in his splendid anthem “Now there lightens upon us,” for which we have substituted a viola for some of the solo organ passages. Sowerby was for many years organist of St. James Cathedral in Chicago, and also founded the College of Church Musicians at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Healey Willan, organist at the University of Toronto from 1932 to 1964, is often considered the “dean” of Canadian church musicians. The haunting anthem “The Three Kings” is one of his most beloved compositions. Performances of Peter Hallock’s anthem, “Baptism of Christ,” have become an annual tradition at Saint Mark’s Cathedral; for many years, Seattle’s own Dr. Hallock himself sang the countertenor solos in this anthem.

A sampling of works from centuries past round out our selection of anthems and motets. Sixteenth-century Italian composer Luca Marenzio is best known for his secular madrigals, though he also wrote many sacred compositions. His motet, Tribus miraculis, commemorates three events in Christ’s life: the journey of the magi, Christ’s baptism, and the wedding feast at Cana—events which are all celebrated within the first two weeks of January. (Indeed, in some traditions these three feasts are celebrated within one liturgy on the same day.) Felix Mendelssohn’s popular anthem “Behold a star,” a chorus from his unfinished oratorio Christus, incorporates soaring musical lines and grand climaxes, magnificently expressing the glory of the Epiphany season. Renaissance composer Peter Philips, although born and trained in England, spent most of his career in Belgium. His colorful motet, In splendenti nube, which describes the wonders of the Transfiguration, is set for six-part chorus. The serene and luminous sections representing the “shining cloud” contrast with the words of God, which are set in more complex, dance-like passages.
—J. Melvin Butler

How Brightly Shines the Morning Star
Purchase the CD from The Gothic Catalog
Download today from ClassicsOnline.com!

How Brightly Shines The Morning Star - Reviews

2011-01-05T09:33:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we told you about our new Epiphany album "How Brightly Shines the Morning Star", so today we wanted to share some reviews of this album with you so that you aren't just taking our word for it!

Journal of the Association of Anglican Musicians:

This exhilarating program uses the title chorale as a unifying element and combines favorite repertory with some fine lesser-known music. The opening is a striking introduction by Thomas Joyce to the hymn songs of Thankfulness and Praise, and the other eight hymns receive similarly imaginative treatments. Wie schön leuchtet (How brightly shines) is heard in the Mendelssohn chorus form the unfinished oratorio Christus and as the concluding festive hymn. It also appears in four organ settings: a Buxtehude choral fantasia, contrasting preludes by Helmut Walcha and Ludwig Lenel, and a charming setting by Jan Zwart, entitled in Dutch O Heil’ge Geest dall op ons neer (the words on sneer on the box and in the liner are a misspelling). In addition to our colleague Mel Butler, the organists are Thomas Joyce and Roger W. Sherman (who is also producer and editor); Brian Fairbanks appears as flutist and Joyce Ramée as violist.

The varied anthems include Leo Sowerby’s Now There Lightens upon Us, The Three Kings by Healey Willan, Peter Hallock’s exquisite Baptism of Christ, the Tribus Miraculis of Luca Marenzio and the In splendenti nube of Peter Philips. Of particular interest is the hymn setting of American composer Cary Ratcliff of the text O Light of Light, Love Given Birth, using Laurence Housman’s translation of a 10th-century Latin text.

The choir maintains the exemplary standard of tone, nuance, phrasing and diction that we know from our colleague Peter Hallock’s long tenure at St. Mark’s. The recording is most sympathetic, taking advantage of the superb acoustics of the cathedral. The liner includes notes, biographies, and some texts.

Even if all of your Epiphany music has been planned by the time you read this review, buy this disc now, enjoy hearing it this year and consider some of its useful ideas for next year.

The Living Church:

St. Mark’s Cathedral Choir of Seattle, Wash., reminds us that Epiphanytide is no ordinary time. Its recent recording is a smart collection of choral, hymn, and organ music appropriate for Jan. 6 and the days that follow. This is music, one might say, fit for a king or three. Mendelssohn’s “Behold a Star” from “Jacob Rising” is well paired with the standard hymns such as “We Three Kings,” though in this case with a particularly alluring and exotic introduction. St. Mark’s Cathedral Choir delivers an honest and accessible performance. Few churches are blessed to have a nearly 50-voice, non-professional choir. Choirmaster J. Melvin Butler and his crew allows all the rest of us to hear what the possibilities are.

Sing for Joy radio program newsletter:

There is a rather long-standing "inside" joke among those of use who produce Sing For Joy regarding the fact that there is so little music celebrating the Baptism of Christ. One possible reason for this, we think, is that the feast often falls on the same Sunday as the celebration of Epiphany - and there is so much good music written for the season of Epiphany. This disc is a worthy sampling of some of that great music. And thankfully it also includes anthems celebrating the Baptism of Christ! Featuring many of the great hymns of the season, the choir of St. Mark's contributes solid performances of the repertoire with very clear diction and enthusiastic engagement. The real star of the show here, though, is the Cathedral's Iandmark Flentrop pipe organ. Numerous solo organ selections based on the tunes of the Epiphany season show off the organ's singular voice in the unique acoustical properties of the half-finished Cathedral. This disc is a welcome addition to our collection, and could be to yours as well.

How Brightly Shines the Morning Star - Music for Epiphany

2011-01-04T08:52:00.000-08:00

How Brightly Shines the Morning Star: Music for Epiphany
Brian Fairbanks, flute
Joyce Ramée, viola
Thomas Joyce, J. Melvin Butler, Roger Sherman, organ
Saint Mark's Cathedral Choir (Seattle, WA)
J. Melvin Butler, director

The chorale “Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern” (“How brightly shines the Morning Star”) is presented on this CD in a wide variety of musical styles, along with other hymns, anthems and voluntaries for the season of Epiphany. J. Melvin Butler directs the cathedral choir in this program of familiar–and unusual–works.

The Season of Epiphany

The liturgical season of Epiphany extends from the Feast of Epiphany (January 6) until Ash Wednesday. The Feast of the Epiphany marks the twelfth and final day of Christmas and commemorates the visit of the Wise Men, or Magi, to the infant Jesus. The Magi are led by a star to Bethlehem and to an encounter with Jesus, an appropriate thematic introduction to a season characterized by light and the ongoing revelation of Christ to his followers.

The Gospel readings for the season of Epiphany recount stories of Jesus’ early ministry as an adult, beginning with the story of Jesus’ baptism on the First Sunday after the Epiphany. In all three accounts of the baptism of Christ, God’s voice is heard saying, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased.” Thus Jesus’ public ministry is set in motion.

The Gospel reading for the last Sunday after Epiphany always tells of the “Transfiguration of Christ,” another pivotal moment in Jesus’ ministry, again invoking the themes of light and revelation. Jesus is seen by the apostles Peter, James, and John, in the presence of Elijah and Moses, and his face gleams “brighter than the sun.” Again, God’s voice is heard, saying, “This is my son, the Beloved, listen to him.” The Transfiguration fittingly culminates the Epiphany season as Jesus is more fully revealed to his disciples, takes his place of authority among the great prophets, and presages his journey towards Jerusalem, crucifixion, and resurrection.

H.U. von Balthasar defines an epiphany as “the radiance and splendor which breaks forth in expressive form from a veiled and yet mighty depth of being.” The encounters with Christ that come via the musical stories contained on this CD are in themselves such epiphanies, offering more opportunities for the ongoing revelation of Christ’s presence in our lives.

—Becky Morrill

1 | Hymn: Songs of thankfulness and praise—"Salzburg" (3:34)
             Thomas Joyce, organ
2 | Voluntary: Chorale Fantasy: “Wie schön leuchtet”—Dieterich Buxtehude (7:00)
              J. Melvin Butler, organ
3 | Anthem: Now there lightens upon us—Leo Sowerby (7:06)
              Thomas Joyce, organ; Joyce Ramée, viola
4 | Hymn: We Three Kings—"Three Kings of Orient" (4:24)
              J. Melvin Butler, organ
              Brian Fairbanks, flute
              Joshua Haberman, Fred McIlroy, Vernon Nicodemus, soloists
5 | Anthem: The Three Kings—Healey Willan (2:54)
6 | Hymn: As with gladness men of old—"Dix" (3:57)
              Thomas Joyce, organ

              Brian Fairbanks, flute
7 | Anthem: Baptism of Christ—Peter Hallock (3:13)
              Tym Mackey, countertenor
8 |  Hymn: Jesus went to Jordon's Stream—"Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam" (2:49)
              Thomas Joyce, organ
9 |  Voluntary: Chorale Prelude: “O Heil’ge Geest daal op ons neer”—Jan Zwart (3:01)
              tune: "Wie schön leuchtet"
              Roger Sherman, organ
10 | Anthem: Tribus miraculis—Luca Marenzio (3:08)
11 | Hymn: Lord God, you now have set your servant free—"Song I" (1:03)
12 | Voluntary: Chorale Prelude: “Wie schön leuchtet”—Helmut Walcha (3:08)
              J. Melvin Butler, organ
13 | Hymn: Alleluia, song of gladness—"Tibi, Christe, splendor Patris" (2:35)
              Brian Fairbanks, flute
14 | Anthem: Behold a star from Jacob shining—Felix Mendelssohn (5:57)
              Thomas Joyce, organ
15 | Hymn: O Light of Light, Love given birth— "Elmhurst" (2:17)
              Thomas Joyce, organ
16 | Anthem: In splendenti nube—Peter Philips (3:01)
17 | Hymn: O wondrous type! O vision fair—"Wareham" (3:34)
              J. Melvin Butler, organ
18 | Voluntary: Chorale Prelude: “Wie schön leuchtet” —Ludwig Lenel (2:50)
              J. Melvin Butler, organ
19 | Hymn: How bright appears the Morning Star—"Wie schön leuchtet" (3:46)
              J. Melvin Butler

List Price: $18.98
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