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.'.

SKU: MN.10-416

UPC: 688670104169.

Seven movement work on the tune MIT FREUDEN ZART with an interesting palate of varying styles and moods. Demonstrates tonal resources of organ. Ends in blaze of glory. Includes Movements: 1. Prelude 2. Bicinium 3. Capriccio 4. Trio 5. Canon 6. Ornamented Chorale 7. Fugato - Finale.

SKU: HL.48184749

UPC: 888680842598. 0.171 inches.

French Suite for Organ by Jean Langlais is a set of ten French pieces for Organ. Of increasing difficulty, these pieces require an advanced knowledge of the instrument, its technique and of the use of pedals. The book is divided in the following pieces: I. Prelude sur les grands jeux - Allegro II. Nazard - Moderato III. Contrepoint sur des jeux d?anche ? Espressivo IV. Francaise - Allegro V. Choral sur la voix humaine - Andantino VI. Arabesque sur les flutes - Vivace VII. Meditation sur les jeux de fonds - Largo VIII. Trio - Moderato IX. Voix celeste ? Vivo/Lento X. Final Rhapsodique - Vivo Jean Langlais was a French composer who contributed greatly to the Organ repertoire..

SKU: MN.10-927

Cityscape dates from 1992 and was composed for inclusion in an organ recital of Chicago composers as part of the Fourth Presbyterian Church's annual Festival of the Arts. The theme of that year's festival was Faces of the City. This three movement work, which depicts facets of the city, is based on a three-note descending scale (C-B-A), the opening notes of the popular song, Chicago, Chicago, that Toddlin' Town. Coincidentally, this same melodic sequence marks the beginning of OLD HUNDREDTH, and a citation of that melody occurs in the third movement. The Fourth Presbyterian Church is located on the part of North Michigan Avenue which is known as The Magnificent Mile. Each of its Sunday morning services begins with the singing of OLD HUNDREDTH, sung to the text of the Doxology. The first performance of Cityscape was played by David Schrader, to whom it is dedicated.

SKU: MN.12-128

UPC: 688670121289.

The three movements that make up Nocturnes, Book I are programmatic pieces that take as their points of departure a painting, the rhythms of a great city, and a poem. 1. The Starry Night is a written down improvisation based on Vincent van Goghs famous picture of the same name. The tonal material is a quite literal transformation of the visual elements of the painting: the melismatic cadenzas mirror van Goghs swirling starlight, and the powerful chords were suggested by the sinister trees that shoot upward to puncture the skys patterns. 2. Stovers Rag is a product of the ragtime revival of the early 1970s, when many composers tried their hand at writing concert rags. The New York night, which was not without its sinister element in those days, is expressed in an updating of the classic ragtime format. The piece looks backward as well, with the old French Baroque basse de trompette making an appearance in the trio section. 3. The Song of Shadows taps the nostalgic mood typical of the poetry of Walter de la Mare. The poem of the same name pictures a lone musician on a winter night, an dog sleeping before a sinking fire, and, at the end, the spirits that are summoned by music. The opening melody, played on an 8 flute with tremulant, suggests the blues-tinged sound of an alto saxophone, and throughout the movement the organs capacity for sustained tone is used to suggest and atmosphere of dreamy timelessness. The pieces were written in 1971 and first performed on July 2, 1972 at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC, with the composer at the console.

SKU: MN.12-121

UPC: 688670121210.

Confluence was commissioned by the Organ Artist Series of Pittsburgh in celebration of its twentieth anniversary in 1999. Christa Rakich gave the premier at the closing concert of the season at Calvary Episcopal Church by in April of 1999. It has been performed frequently since that time. The title was given to honor the joining together or confluence of the three rivers of Pittsburgh: the Allegheny, the Monongalela, and the Ohio. Confluence is a curious hybrid related to both the sonata and rondo forms. It is of the ABABA design with the final A quite extended by polyphonic games and a very noisy and triumphant epilogue. The first idea is driving, rhythmic, nervous and agitated. The second is quiet, gentle and pastoral, that slowly moves in its mysterious ways, closing with a plaintive row of a dozen different pitches. The composer delights in the challenge of making tone rows as approachable and sing-able as possible. Both ideas make slightly varied restatements. At the end, fugal exploitation of the first idea is followed by that row, entering with stentorian grandeur in full pedal, heralding the triumphant close. This row, like the month of March is referred to frequently as coming in like a Iamb, going out like a lion.

SKU: HL.48182909

UPC: 888680862145. 0.298 inches.

Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992) is known for his unique composition style. Incorporating complex rhythms, harmony and melodies, Meditations on the Mystery of the Holy Trinity is no exception to the composer's popular, distinctive style. Composed in 1969, Meditations on the Mystery of the Holy Trinity is an example of Messiaen's use of Serialism. The composer first used what he called his musical alphabet in Meditations on the Mystery of the Holy Trinity, where the alphabet includes motifs for the concepts, 'to have', 'to be' and 'God'. Furthermore, 'sentences' depict the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas. Messiaen's musical alphabet, which he also described as communicable language is explained as a preface to the composition Meditations on the Mystery of the Holy Trinity. Divided into nine sections ('meditations'), a typical performance lasts about 74 minutes. Messiaen's Meditations on the Mystery of the Holy Trinity is essential to all advanced, virtuoso and contemporary organists seeking to expand and vary their repertoire..