Reviews

The organ lives (again) and sets the tone

By Ludwig van Mechelen

30 November 2022 · 5 min read

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Yes, once the organ was the leading instrument. Literally leading the choir singers in the churches and prominent as the musical fulfillment for many celebrations of all kinds and this for centuries. Due to the implosion of church attendance, countless organs became, as it were, third-rate instruments. The organ virtually fell into oblivion. Driven organists and lovers of the instrument succeeded in awakening the experience of organ music again and drawing attention to it. Organs were and are being restored, new organs are being installed and regularly there are concert series and new recordings appear. For you we discuss here four remarkable cd's that embrace four centuries of organ music.

Recommended by Bach by Bart Jacobs

It is perhaps the organ cd of the year. Bart Jacobs, titular organist of the Sint-Goedele & Sint-Michielkathedraal of Brussel, plays works by Johann Sebastian Bach – the never-equalled composer and certainly not surpassed for organ music – and composers recommended by Bach.

Jacobs does not play on one of the organs of 'his' cathedral, but on an organ that without Bach would certainly not exist and an organ for which Bach would immediately be sold. Had it existed in his time and had a position been vacant, he would certainly have applied and then Bach would have become a resident of Leuven. The organ that is being played is located in Leuven, is brand new and can be heard and enjoyed in the Sint-Michielskerk.

On the following links you will find all info about this organ, a Contiusorgel built by Joris Potvlieghe. This Contius-Bach organ (may we call it that for a moment?) immediately puts Leuven and Flanders on the world map for renewed interest in the organ in general and high-quality organ music in particular. Wim Winters is the titular organist and inaugurated the organ. You can of course listen to this organ, which is much more than 'a ordinary organ' on site. There are many opportunities with concerts and festivals.

Anyone who, for whatever reason, cannot visit the place can listen to it at home, as can those who want to enjoy it again after being there. No better listening record can be imagined than the recording by Bart Jacobs. It is a feast for the ear, pure enjoyment, a wealth of the most beautiful sounds. Many excellent organ recordings have been made over the years from which you can hardly choose to say: "Yes, this is it". Well then, with this recording you can say: "Oh! This is it!". The recording is the ideal calling card for this new, historically responsible instrument. Pity that due to circumstances a Golden Label cannot currently be awarded (a consequence of the Covid crisis and the subsequent reorganization of Klassiek Centraal), but 5 stars (or may 5+?) we put on it. The stars are for the performer, the recording quality, the instrument, the project. This deserves so much praise that it must be put in the spotlight extra.

Three spicy organ cd's at Da Vinci Records

With 'Seeds of romanticism in Italy 1815' we start, despite that year, in the 18th century to flow over to the tones of the organ into the 19th century. Seven Italian composers are featured. Organist Eugenio Maria Fagiani makes music on the F.lli Serassi op. 351 organ in Calcinate (Bergamo – Italy). Those (pre)romantic Italians, even their organs sing bel canto. Delightful discoveries because we won't hear this music very often in our Low Countries. Hardly or never on a classical radio or TV station, very rarely at concerts. Yet it is music that makes you feel particularly good and invites you to sing along. At home that's really okay, who can object? So go for it and give yourself this CD as an extra package under the Christmas tree. Four stars, certainly.

We find quite a lot of music by César Franck on cd, we hear it on the stations, it is performed at concerts. Rodolfo Bellatti released a first cd – part 1 – with all the organ works of the Walloon / French composer. Many forget that the man with the name that refers to the Franks was born in Liège. We are now fully in the 19th century and who will deny that Franck was a child of the century of romanticism? On the organ of the Basilica Cathedrale Metropolitana di Sant'Agata V.M. in Catania (Italy) the organ pipes of the organ built by Jaquot-Jeanpierre (1877-1884), expanded by Laudani e Giuldici in 1926 and restored in 2014 by Mascioni vibrate. Anyone who loves César Franck and has none in their home or only a few works cannot make a wrong choice with this four-star cd and what will follow.

With Louis Vierne and Maurice Duruflé we move from the 19th to the 20th century. Vierne is also one of those romantics who saw the organ as a great symphonic orchestra and you hear that in his Symphonie No. 2 which is recorded here. Duruflé's work is somewhat more modern, but still flows smoothly with the later Romanticism. Organist Francesco Botti understands both French organ masters very well and the (post)romantic organ of the Abbazia Santo Stefano in Isola della Scala (also Italy) comes fully into its own. 3 stars, for the greater enthusiast probably 4.

5/5