Kropfreiter: Toccata [Argo - Decca Records]

Peter Hurford (organ)
Hindemith - Organ Sonatas 1-3 / Distler: Spielstucks / Kropfreiter: Toccata [Argo - Decca Records]
Genre: Classical

Track Listings (17) - Disc #1
1. Massig Schnell
2. Lebhaft
3. Sehr Langsam
4. Phantasie
5. Ruhig Bewegt
6. Lebhaft
7. Ruhig Bewegt
8. Fuge
9. Ach Gott, Wem Soll Ich's Klagen
10. Langsam
11. Wach Auf, Mein Hort
12. So Wunsch Ich Dir
13. Schnell
14. Schnell
15. Gehend
16. Flink
17. Toccata Francese

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CD Details

All Artists: Peter Hurford (organ)
Title: Hindemith - Organ Sonatas 1-3 / Distler: Spielstucks / Kropfreiter: Toccata [Argo - Decca Records]
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Universal Classics
Release Date: 1/7/2008
Album Type: Import
Genre: Classical
Styles: Chamber Music, Historical Periods, Classical (c.1770-1830), Modern, 20th, & 21st Century
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 028941715920

Synopsis

Album Details

Hindemith's Three Organ Sonatas Are a Staple of Twentieth-century Organ Music and Part of the Composer's Large Number of Sonatas which Are Hrouped under the Collective Title of Gebrauchsmusik ("Music for Use". Hindemith Wrote Sonatas for all Instruments and this Recital by Peter Hurford also Includes Short Pieces by Kropfreiter and Distler. "Hindemith's Organ Sonatas ... Embody a Spirit which Finds Profound Poetry in the Everyday, Though for that to Come Across They Need the Right Sort of Instrument, Unfailingly Articulate Playing and Apt Registrations. All of These Can Be Found in Peter Hurford's New Argo Recording ... Distler's Spielstucke Are an Attractive Bonus - the Second One is a Particularly Charming Idea."

CD Reviews

Not perfect but worth it

Randall R. Rice | Roxbury, MA United States | 10/25/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Outside of a couple of "skips", this is a rare recording of one of the greatest of modern organ composers, Hindemith, and seldom heard. It is a transfer from Vinyl to CD, IIRC, but the overall quality is quite good.

I bought it primarily as a teaching assistance to me, in learning these sonatas, and works very well for me. It is well worth it, just to be able to hear this often overloooked composer in the modern realm, whose music is accessible to the average listener, yet not predictable.

The Distler is also terrific, another modern composer for the organ and prolific in his own right. He left us church organists a legacy in both large and small works, of high standard, great technical challenge to me as an organist, and pure gems for the listening congregation. This would be a good entry into his works to anyone not familiar with Distler."

Intriguing Organ Works

David F. | Seattle, USA | 08/18/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm an organ music fan, which I attribute to my mother, who is an organist. Paul Hindemith wrote these three intriguing sonatas for organ, which range from soft & soothing to loud & heavy. It's unfortunate they're not so widely known. Hurford performs them masterfully. I tracked down the sheet music for Sonata I, and my mom ended up playing it in a concert. Highly recommended. The additional material fills out the album nicely."