Release Date: 12 January 1999
Label: Naxos - Nxc / Naxos Classics
Packaging Type: Jewel Case
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 730099458320
Genres: Classical
Composer/Series: MENDELSSOHN
Description
Mendelssohn lived 38 brief years, into which he packed more compositions than most would write in a long and distinguished life. The six organ sonatas came at the very end, dating from 1844-1845. Ironically, by this time, Mendelssohn was probably better known in England, where he frequently conducted and performed his own works, than in his native Germany. But he had now returned to Soden near Frankfurt, and he was to spend the following years in and around Leipzig, where he had returned directed the Gewandhaus Orchestra. The music is heavily archaic in style, with a great deal of contrapuntal writing, and a long way from the transparent music that we would find in the \Italian Symphony, the treatment of the chorale melodies, the work of a gifted composer. They do, nevertheless, form one of the cornerstone works in the organ repertoire, and they are magnificently played on this new disc by Stephen Tharp at the Casavant organ of St. Clement's Church in Chicago. There are very few alternative versions of the complete six sonatas, and only two others generally available around the world on single disc. Add to this the fact that it has no competition at budget price, and this demonstration quality digital recording is obviously a sure winner for organ buffs. ""
Tracklisting
Dariia Lytvishko
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; Marin Alsop
Alice Di Piazza; Basel Sinfonietta; NDR Bigband; Titus Engel
Anna Alas i Jove; Miquel Villalba
David Childs; Black Dyke Band; Nicholas Childs
Yaqi Yang; Margarita Parsamyan; Robynne Redmon; Minghao Liu; Frank Ragsdale; Kim Josephson; Kevin S
Vilmos Csikos; Olivier Lechardeur; Manon Lamaison
Tomas Cotik; Martingale Ensemble; Ken Selden
