Thomas Lennartz - Orgelmusik Zum Kirchenjah - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

This album celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Association of Friends of the Baroque Organ and demonstrates Langenbogen's rich musical life. Up to now, the Association has organized more than 100 events. This presents mainly organ works played by Thomas Ennenbach. In addition, we hear the Association's Chairman Ralf Mielke (solo flautist in Halle Staatskapelle), and members of the Ensemble Arco Lungo. Considering the age of St. Magdalenen in Langenbogen near Halle, one would not expect to find a Baroque organ inside. The church was rebuilt in 1826 replacing a Gothic predecessor, but surprisingly, still holds an 18th century organ, the history of which had been unclear for a long time. When the Association of Friends of the Baroque Organ was founded in 2001, the organ was in a deplorable state. On 31 October 2003, the instrument was dismantled by master organ builder Ekkehart Gro and transported to his workshop in Waditz near Bautzen for restoration. During the restoration period, the history of the organ was discovered. An inscription found in the wind chest said that Weienfels court organ builder Georg Theodor Klo built this organ in 1735, though it remains unclear for which church it was built. The Halle organ builder Johann Gottfried Kurtze then transferred the organ to the new Langenbogen church in 1826. For the Klo Organ with it's 529 sounding pipes, intensive and varied use began on 31 May 2004 and continues to this day.

Album Tracks 1. Degott, Matthias - Praeludium C-Moll 2. Kolle, Martin - Ite Missa Est 3. Degott, Matthias - Folk Tune 4. Degott, Matthias - Marche Nuptiale 5. Kolle, Martin - Chant Du Soir 6. Kolle, Martin - Christe, Du Lamm Gottes 7. Degott, Matthias - Veni Creator - Toccata 8. Koch, Georg - Sequentia in Resurrectione Domini 9. Koch, Georg - in Dulci Jubilo (Orgeltabulatur) 10. Koch, Georg - Sancta Maria 11. Koch, Georg - Magnificat Du 5. Ton 12. Koch, Georg - Finale 13. Kohlmann, Mathias - Toccata C-Dur 14. Kohlmann, Mathias - Ouvertuere B-Dur 15. Kohlmann, Mathias - Fantasia Und Fuga F-Dur 16. Kohlmann, Mathias - Stueck Fuer Eine Flotenuhr 17. Meuser, Michael - Andantino C-Dur 18. Berning, Thomas - Berceuse 19. Meuser, Michael - Prelude 20. Meuser, Michael - I Am Black 21. Berning, Thomas - Choral Dorien 22. Berning, Thomas - Einst 23. Meuser, Michael - 2 Correnten

The larger part of the organ music of the American composer Vincent Persichetti (1915-87) was composed towards the end of his life, with of some of those pieces receiving their first recordings here. Several are based on hymn tunes, which can often be heard in the background - re-emerging in glorious affirmation in the Auden Variations. On occasion the language suggests a kaleidoscopic admixture of Hindemith and Messiaen, bristling with edgy flashes of color; and Do not go gentle, an essay for pedals alone after the Dylan Thomas poem, is a statement of austere power. What these highly contrasted works have in common is complete textural clarity Persichetti had been playing the organ since boyhood, and his writing for the instrument is that of a master. Tom Winpenny, who has already experienced much success with his organ recordings, presents Persichetti's organ works on this new . Album Tracks 1. Hymn Tune 'Ann Arbor' ('Give Peace, O God') 2. Chorale Prelude, Give Peace, O God, Op. 162 (1985) 3. Hymn Tune 'Primal' ('Our Father, Whose Creative Will') 4. Auden Variations, Op. 136 (1977) 5. Parable VI, Op. 117 (1971) 6. Do Not Go Gentle, Op. 132 (1974) 7. Hymn Tune 'Foundations' ('Creator Spirit') 8. Dryden Liturgical Suite, Op. 144 (1980)