This new release brings
a selection of organ music from composers such as Giovanni Priuli, Giovanni
Valentini, Wolfgang Ebner, Johann Jakob Froberger, Alessandro Poglietti and
Kaiser Leopold I himself.
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| SACD 92.653 |
The Abbey Church has an octagonal basilica with four
galleries, one at each corner apparently built for musical purposes. The two well
preserved and beautifully restored organs, the Evangelienorgel and the
Epistelorgel, built by the well-known organ builders Joseph and Victor
Ferdinand Bossart in 1743 are also most appropriate.
The very fine organists are David Blunden and Johannes Strobl.
who are joined by the Choralschola der Capella Murensis for three of the works
given here. The Australian organist, harpsichordist and pianist, David Blunden, now lives in Basel. He
has a busy career as a soloist, ensemble musician and accompanist performing at
major festivals, theatres and churches throughout Europe.
The Austrian born, Johannes
Strobl, is the Director of Music of the Catholic parish of Muri where he
oversees the historical organs of the church of the former Benedictine
monastery and is Artistic Director of a distinguished concert series. As well
as teaching Improvisation and Liturgical Organ playing at the Hochschule
Luzern-Musik, his musical activities as soloist and ensemble player have taken
him to many European countries as well as Israel, Japan, the US, Brazil and
Argentina.
This disc groups the featured works under the appropriate
reign for each composer starting with that of Ferdinand II and the composers Giovanni Priuli (c.1575-1626) and Giovanni
Valentini (1582/3-1649).
Priuli’s rousing Civitas beata Ierusalem a 8, that opens
this CD gives us immediately the magnificent sound of the two organs placed at
opposing sides of the Abbey Church. Valentini’s Conzon a 6 opens with the Epistelorgel before the Evangelienorgel
replies, then two organs alternate as though having conversation, the polyphonic
effect of which is quite stunning.
Priuli’s Canzone seconde a 8 that follows is a
lovely work beautifully played by David Blunden and Johannes Strobl. Valentini is again featured with
another Conzon where the two organs
complement each other wonderfully in the way that the registrations are
carefully chosen making for some terrific sounds from each side of the Abbey
Church.
Priuli is again represented
with O Quam dulcis a 8 which shows
off the subtle blending of these two organs. How the organists manage in a
venue that, whilst not in any way sounding over reverberant, must nevertheless
cause time delays, is amazing.
In the Ostersequenz
(Easter Sequence)Victimae paschali laudes, the Choralschola der Cappella
Murensis join the two organs, providing a double choir placed in the galleries
around the church. It is at times like this that I wish I had surround sound
which on this recording must make for a wonderful experience. Even in stereo
the sound is remarkably effective. During this sequence, there is a Praembula for solo organ from David
Blunden.
From the Ferdinand III era comes the composers Wolfgang Ebner (1611/12-1665) and Johann Jakob Froberger (1616-1667).
Ebner is
represented by a great little Toccata in G
and attractive Partite sopra l’Aria
Favorite, a set of extended variations full of life and interest. Froberger is one of the better known
composers featured on this disc with his Toccata
da sonarsi alla levatione, in a beautiful performance by Johannes Strobl
playing the Epistelorgel and the attractive Capriccio
played by David Blunden on the Evangelienorgel.
The sound opens out for the Pfingstsequenz (Pentecost Sequence), where the Choralschola der
Cappella Murensis again join the two organists in Veni Sancte Spritus, with David Blunden again providing a solo performance
of the Praeambula.
Finally there is music from the Court of Leopold I with
music from Kaiser Leopold I himself,
Johann Caspar Kerll (1627-1693), Alessandro Poglietti (c.1600-1683) and Franz Matthias Techelmann (c.1649-1714)
The novelty here must be the two works by Kaiser Leopold I. His Allemanda, Aria and Canario is a simple,
straightforward work. Johann Caspar
Kerll is again a name that many people will know and his Capriccio sopra il cucu is terrific fun
with its imitation of the cuckoo, especially as it speeds up during the course
of the work with some wonderful playing from Johannes Strobl.
Poglietti’s unusual
Conzon uber das Hennen und Hannen
Geschrey follows naturally after the Kerll with its light and rhythmic
sounds brilliantly played by David Blunden on the Evangelienorgel. Capriccio uber das Hennen Geschrey
receives a lovely performance by Johannes Strobl and the concluding Daβ Hannen Geschray that provides another
solo from David Blunden.
Kerll is again
represented by his lively little Fuga:
Clamor grillorum campestrium in a great performance by Johannes Strobl. The
second appearance for Leopold I is
his Aria, Gavotte and Sarabanda, a
work that shows a little more substance than the pieces featured earlier. Techelmann proves to be a composer of
some accomplishment on the evidence of his Ricercar
in C played by David Blunden.
The Marianische
Antiphon Salve Regina concludes this terrific CD with the Choralschola der
Cappella Murensis again joining the two organs in a performance full of
atmosphere.
As I have already made clear, the performances are outstanding,
with David Blunden and Johannes Strobl showing great musicality in the way they
make the two organs blend, as well as in their individual organ solos. The excellent
Choralschola der Cappella Murensis remind us of the use of Gregorian chant in
the liturgy.
With an excellent recording, excellent booklet notes by
Johannes Strobl and full organ specifications and registrations, this new
release receives an enthusiastic recommendation.
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