About This Item
Divine Art presents two stunning organ symphonies by renowned composer James Cook, performed by the eminent British organist, Kevin Bowyer. Making his debut on the Divine Art tag, Bowyer brings to life Cook's Symphony No. 8 (InchOlympianInch) and Symphony No. 9 (InchApollonianInch), both crafted in 2006 and masterfully orchestrated in 2011. This remarkable recording took place on the majestic organ of Glasgow University Memorial Chapel in 2023.James Cook, a prolific composer born in 1963, studied composition at Oxford University and has since created a vast array of music, including operatic extracts, sacred choral works, and an impressive collection of organ compositions. This new marks the ninth album of Cook's music by Divine Art, showcasing his continuous evolution as a composer.The Olympian Symphony, Cook's eighth symphony, is an expansive and evocative piece inspired by Mount Olympus, the mythical home of the Greek gods. It consists of four movements Soliloquy, a meditative and introspective movement that builds to a powerful climax before gently fading away; Anglais, an energetic and angular dance in 2/2 time, contrasting leaping intervals with scalic melodies; Pastorale, a serene nocturnal scene, mostly quiet with a dynamic central section, concluding with a whispering ppp; and Expansum, grand and noble, featuring majestic chords and sweeping passages that suggest an endless journey. Prefacing the symphony, Cook includes a quote from John Trapp InchShould we not be as serious and sedulous in building staircases for heaven as the wicked are in digging descents to hell.InchThe Apollonian Symphony, Cook's ninth symphony, depicts the vibrant and varied experiences of a long summer's day by the seaside in Victorian or Edwardian times. It comprises seven movements Introduzione, where dawn breaks on a summer morning; Allegro, capturing the excitement of starting
