SKU: HL.4006573

UPC: 840126915099.

The myth of El Dorado (“The Golden One”) stems from the story of a powerful chief who used to cover himself with gold dust before bathing in a sacred lake where he threw precious objects as offerings to the gods. The myth was soon relayed to the Spanish conquistadors and inspired many expeditions, although the invaders didn't bring back nearly as much gold as they expected, if any at all. Eldorado is a mysterious and dynamic work that illustrates the myth of the golden man and the European expeditions that followed. With a touch of exotic influences, the music is varied and rich. This piece was commissioned by the French Cultural Association Lille 3000 as part of their Eldorado-themed festival in 2019.

SKU: BT.DHP-0960683-040

The Russian ballet director Sergei Diaghilev commissioned many composers to write music for the theatre. This was what caused Serge Prokofiev to compose the four part Scytische Suite (also known as Ala and Lolli) in 1916, from which The Enemy God and the Dance of the Spirits can be heard on this CD. This suite is one of Prokofiev's first works, and received negative criticism following its first performance on account of its being uncivilised. Prokofiev himself wrote after this first performance . . . The timpani player beat the skin of the timpani to tatters, and the whole orchestra voiced a protest. A cellist complained that he only put up with the violence, createdby the blaring brass, on account of his sick wife and three children . . ..

SKU: HL.253940

12.0x9.0 inches.

Jan Rybarskis Fantasia for Organ is a work of a great emotional impact. Its romantic dramaturgy leads the listener into the state of deep reflections. The work is monumental; its structure resembles a one-part sonata with a fugue in the middle fragment. The arrangement requires organs with minimum 16-18 voices in two manuals. Despite fast passages and at times complicated harmony that require a lot of practice, the work is played with comfort. The author, as an organist-practitioner, uses difficult technical elements that he controls in a perfect manner. The proportion of the traditional and modern harmonics is ideal, which means it perfectly corresponds to the dramaturgy of the work. The main formative element is the rhythm that - as the author claims himself - inspires, opens both the performer and the listener to the experience. The structure of the Fantasia brings connotations to the course of a human life, with a film story that apparently is different for everyone, but conveys one truth common to all people: in order to overcome difficulties, you need to trust God.