Merkel Complete Organ Sonatas, Volume 1
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Gustav Adolf Merkel
Label: Priory
Magazine Review Date: 8/1997
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 79
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: PRCD501

Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
Fantasia and Fugue |
Gustav Adolf Merkel, Composer
Adrian Partington, Organ Gustav Adolf Merkel, Composer |
Sonata for Organ No. 6, 'Chorale-Sonata' |
Gustav Adolf Merkel, Composer
Adrian Partington, Organ Gustav Adolf Merkel, Composer |
Allegretto and Allegro |
Gustav Adolf Merkel, Composer
Adrian Partington, Organ Gustav Adolf Merkel, Composer |
Pastorale No. 1 |
Gustav Adolf Merkel, Composer
Adrian Partington, Organ Gustav Adolf Merkel, Composer |
Variations on a theme of Beethoven |
Gustav Adolf Merkel, Composer
Adrian Partington, Organ Gustav Adolf Merkel, Composer |
Sonata for Organ No. 2 |
Gustav Adolf Merkel, Composer
Adrian Partington, Organ Gustav Adolf Merkel, Composer |
Composer or Director: Gustav Adolf Merkel
Label: Priory
Magazine Review Date: 8/1997
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 77
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: PRCD522

Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
Overture |
Gustav Adolf Merkel, Composer
Adrian Partington, Organ Gustav Adolf Merkel, Composer |
Sonata for Organ No. 5 |
Gustav Adolf Merkel, Composer
Adrian Partington, Organ Gustav Adolf Merkel, Composer |
Fantasie No. 4, 'in freiem style' |
Gustav Adolf Merkel, Composer
Adrian Partington, Organ Gustav Adolf Merkel, Composer |
Fantasie No. 5 |
Gustav Adolf Merkel, Composer
Adrian Partington, Organ Gustav Adolf Merkel, Composer |
Sonata for Organ No. 4 |
Gustav Adolf Merkel, Composer
Adrian Partington, Organ Gustav Adolf Merkel, Composer |
Adagio |
Gustav Adolf Merkel, Composer
Adrian Partington, Organ Gustav Adolf Merkel, Composer |
Sonata for Organ Duet |
Gustav Adolf Merkel, Composer
Adrian Partington, Organ Gustav Adolf Merkel, Composer Mark Shepherd, Organ |
Author: Marc Rochester
I am strongly reminded of Rheinberger in the way Merkel compensates for a paucity of musical ideas through assiduous formal and structural organization. As with the Rheinberger sonatas there are occasional movements of real musical interest (as in the sturdy Fugue which closes Sonata No. 5) but between these there is little to set the soul on fire – although Merkel certainly avoids the long bouts of aching turgidity which so frequently affected his Lichtensteinian contemporary. The only sonata which has achieved any measure of popularity (and the only one so far featured on the
Beyond the sonatas there is a beautifully crafted set of Variations on a theme of Beethoven and a fine, very Mendelssohnian Fantasia and Fugue, which ends gloriously – giving us a thrilling taste of the Peterborough organ at its meatiest. The first disc shows this to be a very fine instrument making a lovely, full-bodied sound. The second disc shows it to be dull, characterless and overblown. Why the difference? Well, Priory in their wisdom have experimented with various microphone positions in these recordings and have invited purchasers to write in to express their preference. I think I’ve made it clear which way my vote will go; but does it matter since the next two discs in the series will be recorded in Nottingham and Dresden respectively?'
Discover the world's largest classical music catalogue with Presto Music.

Gramophone Digital Club
- Digital Edition
- Digital Archive
- Reviews Database
- Full website access
From £8.75 / month
Subscribe
Gramophone Full Club
- Print Edition
- Digital Edition
- Digital Archive
- Reviews Database
- Full website access
From £11.00 / month
Subscribe
If you are a library, university or other organisation that would be interested in an institutional subscription to Gramophone please click here for further information.