Organ Dreams, Vol 4
Music that celebrates the more gentle aspects of the organ repertoire
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Herbert (Whitton) Sumsion, César Franck, Charles-Marie(-Jean-Albert) Widor, Maurice Duruflé, Franz Liszt, (Felix) Alexandre Guilmant, Harvey Grace, Samuel Sebastian Wesley
Genre:
Instrumental
Label: Hyperion
Magazine Review Date: 4/2005
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 78
Mastering:
Stereo
DDD
Catalogue Number: CDA67436
Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
Bach's Memento, Movement: Marche du Veilleur de Nuit |
Charles-Marie(-Jean-Albert) Widor, Composer
Charles-Marie(-Jean-Albert) Widor, Composer Christopher Herrick, Organ |
Prélude, fugue et variation |
César Franck, Composer
César Franck, Composer Christopher Herrick, Organ |
(3) Pieces for a Chamber Organ Set 2, Movement: Andante in E flat |
Samuel Sebastian Wesley, Composer
Christopher Herrick, Organ Samuel Sebastian Wesley, Composer |
Suite, Movement: Sicilienne |
Maurice Duruflé, Composer
Christopher Herrick, Organ Maurice Duruflé, Composer |
(10) Compositions for Organ |
Harvey Grace, Composer
Christopher Herrick, Organ Harvey Grace, Composer |
Prière |
César Franck, Composer
César Franck, Composer Christopher Herrick, Organ |
Air, Berceuse and Procession |
Herbert (Whitton) Sumsion, Composer
Christopher Herrick, Organ Herbert (Whitton) Sumsion, Composer |
Variations on 'Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen' (Bach) |
Franz Liszt, Composer
Christopher Herrick, Organ Franz Liszt, Composer |
Chorals et Noëls |
(Felix) Alexandre Guilmant, Composer
(Felix) Alexandre Guilmant, Composer Christopher Herrick, Organ |
Author: Malcolm Riley
Almost half of the disc is devoted to French repertory. Widor’s quirky reworking of Bach’s Wachet auf! provides a bold beginning, followed by a beautifully-shaped rendition of Franck’s Prélude, fugue et variation. Every- thing is clearly balanced and nicely poised. The same applies to Duruflé’s Sicilienne, its celestial amblings floating freely in the generous acoustic. Franck as arranger is responsible for Alkan’s ‘Priere’. Guilmant’s substantial Choral (a late piece from 1908) grows steadily to a powerful conclusion, capable of rousing even the most somnolent listener.
The Gallic tendency is tempered by a distinctive choice of music by three English cathedral organists with SS Wesley’s audacious Andante in E flat major being a particular highlight. Harvey Grace’s Reverie is predictably sweet and wayfaring and Sumsion’s Air, Berceuse and Procession is an unexpectedly delightful and stirring pleasure. The disc concludes with the 18-minute Variations by Liszt, a tightly-organised, anguished response to the death of his daughter Blandine.
Whether your dreams are of the nocturnal or day variety there is plenty to enjoy on this fastidiously engineered disc; Herrick’s playing is strong on communication and conviction. Most refreshing.
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