Description
A tribute to three great masters of the organ whose careers centered on Leipzig — Max Reger, J S Bach, and Sigfrid Karg-Elert — performed by Stefan Kozinski, a formidable exponent of some of the most daunting and challenging organ literature and someone to be reckoned with.
Bach’s Fantasy and Fugue, completed in 1717, was written by the master composer on return from a trip to Dresden, after challenging French virtuoso Louis Marchand to a keyboard contest from which the latter fled. Reger’s Sinonische Phantasie und Fuge from 1901, recorded only once before in its history, is said to be inspired by Dante’s Inferno. Karg-Elert’s Passacaglia and Fuge on B-A-C-H (1932) was written for an American tour and is the last and culminating work of the composer’s life.
The performance is on ‘The Great Organ’ in Methuen Memorial Music Hall in Methuen, Massachusetts, originally built for the Boston Music Hall.
”“He is a true, passionate, all-round, musician, a fine pianist-conductor-composer. His many talents will not go unrecognized.”
—Lukas Foss
”“It would be churlish not to recognize Kozinski’s technical skill in these pieces or the thrills he produced in their tumultuous mood-changes …deals equally well with the masterful beauty of Bach’s organ chorale preludes and the grandiose physicality of big works by Reger and Karg-Elert … a rare pleasure.”
—Spokesman Review
PERFORMERS
Stefan Kozinski, organ
PROGRAM
Max Reger: Symphonic Fantasy & Fugue, Opus 57 (1901) 20:40
1. I. Fantasy 10:02
2. II. Fugue 10:37
J S Bach: Fantasy & Fugue in G Minor, BMV 542 (1708-1717) 13:40
3. I. Fantasy 6:31
4. II. Fugue 7:09
Sigfrid Karg-Elert: Passacaglia, Variations & Fugue on B-A-C-H, Opus 150 (1932) 19:51
5. I. Fantasy 13:12
6. II. Fugue 6:39
Recorded at Methuen Memorial Music Hall in Methuen, Massachusetts, on 19-20 April 1994.
Producer: Gunther Schuller
ALSO AVAILABLE
Also available for downloads on Amazon as well as other digital sites.
