Organ Fireworks, Vol 12

Fireworks promised but the gentler pieces bring the best out of Herrick

Record and Artist Details

Composer or Director: Johannes Brahms, Petr Eben, Marcel Dupré, Louis Vierne, Niels (Wilhelm) Gade, Dietrich Buxtehude, Sigfrid Karg-Elert, Joseph (Gabriel) Rheinberger

Genre:

Instrumental

Label: Hyperion

Media Format: CD or Download

Media Runtime: 77

Mastering:

Stereo
DDD

Catalogue Number: CDA67612

Tracks:

Composition Artist Credit
Prelude, Fugue and Chaconne Dietrich Buxtehude, Composer
Christopher Herrick, Organ
Dietrich Buxtehude, Composer
Prelude and Fugue Dietrich Buxtehude, Composer
Christopher Herrick, Organ
Dietrich Buxtehude, Composer
Homage to Dietrich Buxtehude Petr Eben, Composer
Christopher Herrick, Organ
Petr Eben, Composer
(3) Tone Pieces Niels (Wilhelm) Gade, Composer
Christopher Herrick, Organ
Niels (Wilhelm) Gade, Composer
Organ Sonata No. 4 Joseph (Gabriel) Rheinberger, Composer
Christopher Herrick, Organ
Joseph (Gabriel) Rheinberger, Composer
Pièces de fantaisie, Suite No. 3, Movement: Carillon de Westminster Louis Vierne, Composer
Christopher Herrick, Organ
Louis Vierne, Composer
(3) Preludes and Fugues, Movement: G minor Marcel Dupré, Composer
Christopher Herrick, Organ
Marcel Dupré, Composer
Academic Festival Overture Johannes Brahms, Composer
Christopher Herrick, Organ
Johannes Brahms, Composer
Passcaglia and Fugue on BACH Sigfrid Karg-Elert, Composer
Christopher Herrick, Organ
Sigfrid Karg-Elert, Composer
As with previous volumes in Hyperion's “Organ Fireworks” series, the programme covers a wide range of moods and styles, from the extrovert display pieces by Dupré, Eben and Vierne through to the more introspective compositions by Gade and Rheinberger - two composers who aren't the most fashionable among recitalists and recording artists.

Herrick's playing is always lively and energetic, but with mixed results, I feel. In Buxtehude's Prelude, Fugue and Chaconne the sprightly articulation and frequent changes of stops and manuals might strike one as over-fussy. Vierne's Carillon surges forward at a tempo faster than the composer's metronome mark, at the expense of this work's intense majesty. Herrick is very good in Brahms's Overture and Dupré's Prelude and Fugue, but Robert Quinney at Westminster Cathedral (Signum, 2/07) is even better; his performances have greater flair and charisma and are ultimately more satisfying. Herrick is at his best in the more introverted compositions. Buxtehude's G minor Prelude and Fugue receives a beautifully poised and controlled account, and the works by Gade and Rheinberger have a warm, seamless flow. For me the two highlights of this CD are Herrick's impressive clarity in Karg-Elert's Passacaglia and the delightfully witty Homage to Buxtehude by Eben. As ever, Hyperion's recording is rich and detailed and there's a comprehensive booklet about the composers, the music and the Haderslev organ.

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