SKU: HL.49018084

ISBN 9790001168687. UPC: 884088531089. 9.0x12.0x0.218 inches.

One of the first things that comes to one's mind when reading the title of Organ Symphony No. 9 'Pathetique' by Enjott Schneider is another work with this epithet: Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6. And that is no coincidence: The composer regards his organ work as an homage to this 'elder sister'. While Tchaikovsky, in a secret programme, made out his own life to be a struggle and long ordeal to the point of his suspected suicide, Enjott Schneider presents those hours as the ultimate tale of woe in which Jesus had well and truly become human, fatefully bearing the pain and misery of all people. 'Gethsemane', 'Geiselung: Ecce homo', 'Golgatha' and 'Grablegung': Maria Magdalena' are the names of the stages and movements. The Greek word 'pathos' means 'strong emotion, feeling, passion or suffering' - in Schneider's Organ Symphony No. 9, this comes true, musically, in his inner conflict, struggle, wrestling with his fate, cruelty of the crucifixion and deathly silence.

SKU: HL.49017864

ISBN 9790220131288. UPC: 884088567637. 9.0x12.0x0.107 inches.

Sacrificium was commissioned by the St Albans International Organ Festival for what has become one of the most influential organ competitions in the world. It is a demanding 8 minute work that will challenge performers with an abundance of contrasting material whilst still leaving space for individual interpretation. Casken refers to the story of Alban who sacrificed his life to save another Christian thereby becoming the first British Martyr in his programme note and more specifically the act of exchanging cloaks and deception which led to Alban's execution. This idea of taking on a new appearance is apparent in the music as recurring themes undergo transformations, gradually becoming absorbed into new musical textures.

SKU: HL.49017947

ISBN 9790001157933. 9.0x12.0x0.216 inches.

With his organ symphonies, the composer Enjott Schneider (born 1950) from Munich has been a profound sensation in recent years and seen world premieres at major European organ events. The Organ Symphony No. 6 'Te Deum' (premiered at Bruckner's St. Florian above Bruckner's tomb in 2008 and recorded there on CD) adopts the five-part structure and several motifs from Bruckner's 'Te Deum', thus becoming a forceful compact work pervaded by the Gotteslob. 1: 'Te Deum' is based on Bruckner's original figuration of fifths and eighths which is connected with the Latin Te Deum; 2: 'Te Ergo' is a 'preghiera' with pleading and praying gestures; 3: 'Aeterna fac' is an extremely virtuoso perpetuum mobile; 4: 'Salvum Fac' a basso ostinato and finally 5: 'In te, Domine speravi' a toccata which, after taking many detours, inevitably leads to the C major.

SKU: HL.49016184

ISBN 9790001140782. UPC: 884088202484. 9.0x12.0x0.145 inches.

Schneider's Organ Symphony No. 1 is in the tradition of the French organ symphonies (Widor, Vierne, Durufle). With its general tendency from the desperate dark to the comforting bright, the symphony brings up the air of the praying and pleading of suffering people as a theme. The 'pater noster' as archetype of the prayer is cited in all movements.

SKU: HL.49018083

ISBN 9790001168670. 9.0x12.0x0.24 inches.

In his Organ Symphony No. 8 'In Memoriam', following an idea of the cathedral organist Silvius von Kessel from Erfurt (and dedicatee of the work), Enjott Schneider carries on where Anton Bruckner left off, processes themes from the latter's Symphony No. 8 variatively and contrasts it to 'Haus-Choral des Erfurter Doms', 'Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme'. Bruckner's material is used as a starting point and further developed by Schneider in four movements: typically enough, the initial movement is called 'Metamorphosen' before an almost eerie atmosphere is created in a 'Scherzo sinistro'. The twelve-note series (in the third movement), embedded in a transcendental mood, eventually develops into the chorale which, now as main theme of the finale, amalgamates with Bruckner's stylistic moments and leads to a magnificent end - an exciting and rousing piece of music.

SKU: HL.49045437

ISBN 9790001162715. UPC: 841886029088. 9.0x12.0x0.168 inches.

On the occasion of the quincentenary of Reformation Day in 2017, the composer Enjott Schneider thoroughly studied Martin Luther the individual and all his contradictions. The result is a brilliant, demanding organ symphony which is perfect for concerts on the subject of Reformation and Martin Luther.The composer describes the five movements of the symphony as follows:'1st movement:Wir glauben all an einen Gott with its quintuplet-like beginning is very Gregorian in style, outlining the range of Lutheran emotionalism between the Middle Ages and the modern era. The irrationality of faith ultimately has priority over any thought and evidence. At the beginning of the movement, sounds of knocking on wood remind of the nailing of the Ninety-Five Theses to the doors of churches in Wittenberg. The chorale melody sometimes hides with an almost rough medieval saltarello, referring to Luther's robustness and vitality with which he knew to carry away even common people.2nd movement:In 1530, the electoral prince of Saxony presented to Luther at Coburg Castle the golden signet ring with the Luther rose which became the symbol of his theology of grace. A white heart with black cross is fixed on a five-petalled rose. To him, white is the colour of angels and ghosts, black stands for the pain of crucification: The just shall live by faith, but by faith in the Crucified. But the fact that the rose and the heart are the dominating symbols shows how Catholic Marian piety remained an ingredient of Luther's spirituality throughout his life. In line with the dominant five-petal structure of the rose, this movement was composed, to a large extent, in accordance with the floating, lyrical rhythm in 5/8 time.3rd movement:The omnipresence of death and dying - from the plague and war to the never-ending dangers of daily life - was an essential part of the world view of that time. Fears ensued that might heighten into the grotesque, e.g. in the pictures of Hieronymus Bosch. The Danse macabre was a popular motif in those years. Luther's chorale Mitten wir im Leben sind / mit dem Tod umfangen from 1524 (Enchiridion from Erfurt) is based on the Gregorian chant Media vita in morte sumus created in France around 750 and, with its idea of transience, inspired a simplistic air.4th movement:The famous confession delivered at the Diet of Worms in 1521, I stand here and can say no more. God help me. Amen, are not Luther's words but the version later used as text for a pamphlet. However, it represents quite plainly the straightforwardness and inevitability of his mission. Musically, it was made into a perpetuum mobile, i.e. a dogged, ostinato and never-ending musical air.5th movement:The Mighty Fortress, on the other hand, is one of the great symbols of Martin Luther which, with its shining C major key, embodies the Protestant ideology and willful nature of the Reformation unlike any other song. Heinrich Heine called it the Marseille anthem of the Reformation, Friedrich Engels the Marseillaise of the Peasants' Wars. This disputability is not thought through to the end but rather interrupted: With a jubilant birdcall version of the melody, the finale shows a rather chamber-music-like side of the ideals of freedom of Christians.'.