“New from the classic market”,
Broadcast 15.3.2008
“Un must pour les sybarites, les gourmets
et les gourmands qui n’ont pas honte de
leur vice...” (Classica, 2008)
Sigfrid Karg-Elert Edition, Vol. 4
Elke Völker (organ)
Eglise St. Martin, Dudelange (LUX) - Stahlhut/Jann organ (1912)
Contents:
Kaleidoscope [op.144]
The soul of the lake (from "Seven Pastels") [op.96,1]
Landscape in mist (from "Seven Pastels") [op.96,2]
The legend of the mountain (from "Seven Pastels") [op.96,3]
The reed-grown waters (from "Seven Pastels") [op.96,4]
The sun's evensong (from "Seven Pastels") [op.96,5]
The mirrored moon (from "Seven Pastels") [op.96,6]
Hymn to the stars (from "Seven Pastels") [op.96,7]
Rondo alla campanella [op.156]
Homage to Handel G minor [op.75]
Playing time: 1:9 (h:m)
Booklet: 28p., English German French
Order Nr. AE 10511
EAN 4026798105112
Product category: SACD
Release date: 01/04/2008
Reviews:
Introduction:
Volume 4 of our Sigfrid Karg-Elert Edition contains an impressive collection of large scale
secular organ works: Kaleidoscope, Seven Pastels from the Lake Constance, Rondo and
Homage to Handel.
As already on volume 3 (AE-10431) of this editon, the Georg Stahlhuth organ (1912) of
Saint-Martin in Dudelange, restored by Thomas Jann in 2002, again is an ideal
instrument for Karg-Elert's music - and Elke Völker is absolutely in her element here. She
found incredibly beautiful registrations (based on Karg-Elerts indications of course!),
especially in the Seven Pastels from the Lake Constance.
Kaleidoscope op.144 is a rather unknwon composition and can be considered as a
brother of the big Symphonie in f sharp (op.143, recorded on Vol.1, AE-10121), because
of some similarities in structure and harmonic language. The Seven Pastels are really
close to the technical limits of the organ. The cycle is Karg-Elert's only large-scale
impressionistic composition and takes the expressive potential of the organ to its outer
limits.
Rondo alla campanella is a dazzling 169-bar Allegrissimo in 3/8 time, in semiquavers
throughout like a french Toccata.
Homage to Handel is a series of 54 variations on a ground bass of Handel. It's a guide
through all kinds of registrations of the wonderful Stahlhuth organ.
This is the first time we recorded this instrument in surround sound and as far as we know
the first available Super Audio CD of this organ! The recording comes along in a nice
digipack format with 28 pages booklet.
