CPO
Charles Koechlin: Organ Works / Christian Schmitt
$18.99
Details
- Composer
- KOECHLIN, CHARLES
- Artist
- Christian Schmitt
- Format
- SACD
- Label
- CPO
- Released
- Sep 27, 2011
- Catalog #
- 777512-2
- UPC
- 761203751228
About
One of the nicest organ recordings I’ve heard.
I’ve been aware of Charles Koechlin for a very long time, having played flute pieces of his for almost as long as I can remember. It’s only relatively recently however that his name seems to have been cropping up more in the CD catalogues, with fascinating and remarkable works such as the piano cycle Les Heures Persanes showing previously little known aspects of the composer. Organist Christian Schmitt has here recorded a representative sample of organ works by Koechlin, and as many of these are première recordings this disc will add considerably to our supply of Koechlinalea.
Koechlin himself was more of a pianist than an organist, and the conventional nature of earlier works such as the Choral in F minor develops into further extremes of contrapuntal extremity as evidenced by the later opus numbered Choral Final du Requiem, which pushes canonic techniques into a labyrinthine elegy. If you like Hindemith’s organ sonatas, then the three Sonatines which Koechlin wrote during 1928-29 occupy comparable melodic and harmonic territory. Koechlin’s fascination and deep study of Bach comes through strongly in the Finale of Sonatine III, and the first and second of these pieces contrast with the rest of the programme in also having lighter Pastorale movements. There is also a good deal of melodic charm in the Quatre Chorals, produced as a by-product of the composer’s own composition classes.
This programme contains what is apparently Koechlin’s last work, the eccentric Pièce pour orgue, Op. 226, which shows the composer exploring the essence of his own expressive palette in what the booklet notes describe as “sketchy textures.” More monumental is the extended Fugue Op.133 II originally written for “a symphonic string apparatus”, and with seemingly impossible chromatic lines. More gentle and improvisatory is the Adagio pour Grand-orgue Op.201, which nonetheless builds a remarkable structure in which one can become totally immersed.
The recently rebuilt 1950s Marktkirche organ is a tremendous instrument, and very well suited to this music. A more nasal French sound might arguably be more appropriate, but whether consciously or not the organ sound here points to the universality of Koechlin’s expressive world and to my ears is both appropriate and highly enjoyable. The CPO recording is very rich and deep even in plain stereo. As an SACD multi-channel experience it really is of demonstration quality. This is one of those inspiring releases which anyone keen on organ music and 20 th century repertoire should have around. The organ music of Charles Koechlin should hold no fears for anyone attracted by the romantic worlds of Widor and Duruflé, and indeed it often harks back to more ancient worlds in its sometimes antique style and use of the models of Bach. This organ sound is woodsmoke and nostalgia to me, and has restored my faith in its qualities as a truly expressive instrument. Superbly performed and produced with useful booklet notes, it is one of the nicest organ recordings I’ve heard for a long time.
-- Dominy Clements, MusicWeb International
I’ve been aware of Charles Koechlin for a very long time, having played flute pieces of his for almost as long as I can remember. It’s only relatively recently however that his name seems to have been cropping up more in the CD catalogues, with fascinating and remarkable works such as the piano cycle Les Heures Persanes showing previously little known aspects of the composer. Organist Christian Schmitt has here recorded a representative sample of organ works by Koechlin, and as many of these are première recordings this disc will add considerably to our supply of Koechlinalea.
Koechlin himself was more of a pianist than an organist, and the conventional nature of earlier works such as the Choral in F minor develops into further extremes of contrapuntal extremity as evidenced by the later opus numbered Choral Final du Requiem, which pushes canonic techniques into a labyrinthine elegy. If you like Hindemith’s organ sonatas, then the three Sonatines which Koechlin wrote during 1928-29 occupy comparable melodic and harmonic territory. Koechlin’s fascination and deep study of Bach comes through strongly in the Finale of Sonatine III, and the first and second of these pieces contrast with the rest of the programme in also having lighter Pastorale movements. There is also a good deal of melodic charm in the Quatre Chorals, produced as a by-product of the composer’s own composition classes.
This programme contains what is apparently Koechlin’s last work, the eccentric Pièce pour orgue, Op. 226, which shows the composer exploring the essence of his own expressive palette in what the booklet notes describe as “sketchy textures.” More monumental is the extended Fugue Op.133 II originally written for “a symphonic string apparatus”, and with seemingly impossible chromatic lines. More gentle and improvisatory is the Adagio pour Grand-orgue Op.201, which nonetheless builds a remarkable structure in which one can become totally immersed.
The recently rebuilt 1950s Marktkirche organ is a tremendous instrument, and very well suited to this music. A more nasal French sound might arguably be more appropriate, but whether consciously or not the organ sound here points to the universality of Koechlin’s expressive world and to my ears is both appropriate and highly enjoyable. The CPO recording is very rich and deep even in plain stereo. As an SACD multi-channel experience it really is of demonstration quality. This is one of those inspiring releases which anyone keen on organ music and 20 th century repertoire should have around. The organ music of Charles Koechlin should hold no fears for anyone attracted by the romantic worlds of Widor and Duruflé, and indeed it often harks back to more ancient worlds in its sometimes antique style and use of the models of Bach. This organ sound is woodsmoke and nostalgia to me, and has restored my faith in its qualities as a truly expressive instrument. Superbly performed and produced with useful booklet notes, it is one of the nicest organ recordings I’ve heard for a long time.
-- Dominy Clements, MusicWeb International
Tracklist 24 tracks
-
1 Choral in F Minor, Op. 90bis 05:53
- Track
- 1
- Title
- Choral in F Minor, Op. 90bis
- Duration
- 05:53
- Composer
- Charles Koechlin
- Performer
- Christian Schmitt
-
2 No. 1. Allegretto ben moderato 02:03
- Track
- 2
- Title
- No. 1. Allegretto ben moderato
- Duration
- 02:03
- Composer
- Charles Koechlin
- Performer
- Christian Schmitt
-
3 No. 2. Adagio 03:08
- Track
- 3
- Title
- No. 2. Adagio
- Duration
- 03:08
- Composer
- Charles Koechlin
- Performer
- Christian Schmitt
-
4 Requiem des pauvres bougres, Op. 161: Final Choral 03:52
- Track
- 4
- Title
- Requiem des pauvres bougres, Op. 161: Final Choral
- Duration
- 03:52
- Composer
- Charles Koechlin
- Performer
- Christian Schmitt
-
5 I. Large et soutenu 01:28
- Track
- 5
- Title
- I. Large et soutenu
- Duration
- 01:28
- Composer
- Charles Koechlin
- Performer
- Christian Schmitt
-
6 II. Allegretto scherzando 00:39
- Track
- 6
- Title
- II. Allegretto scherzando
- Duration
- 00:39
- Composer
- Charles Koechlin
- Performer
- Christian Schmitt
-
7 III. Allegro - solide (style fugue - pour un final du Sonatine) 01:36
- Track
- 7
- Title
- III. Allegro - solide (style fugue - pour un final du Sonatine)
- Duration
- 01:36
- Composer
- Charles Koechlin
- Performer
- Christian Schmitt
-
8 No. 1. Moderato allant et bien lie 01:16
- Track
- 8
- Title
- No. 1. Moderato allant et bien lie
- Duration
- 01:16
- Composer
- Charles Koechlin
- Performer
- Christian Schmitt
-
9 No. 2. Un peu plus calme (que I) et tres expressif 01:30
- Track
- 9
- Title
- No. 2. Un peu plus calme (que I) et tres expressif
- Duration
- 01:30
- Composer
- Charles Koechlin
- Performer
- Christian Schmitt
-
10 No. 3. Tres Adagio 03:12
- Track
- 10
- Title
- No. 3. Tres Adagio
- Duration
- 03:12
- Composer
- Charles Koechlin
- Performer
- Christian Schmitt
-
11 No. 4. Offertoire 04:23
- Track
- 11
- Title
- No. 4. Offertoire
- Duration
- 04:23
- Composer
- Charles Koechlin
- Performer
- Christian Schmitt
-
12 Adagio, Op. 226 03:53
- Track
- 12
- Title
- Adagio, Op. 226
- Duration
- 03:53
- Composer
- Charles Koechlin
- Performer
- Christian Schmitt
-
13 Fugue, Op. 133, No. 2 (version for organ) 06:40
- Track
- 13
- Title
- Fugue, Op. 133, No. 2 (version for organ)
- Duration
- 06:40
- Composer
- Charles Koechlin
- Performer
- Christian Schmitt
-
14 Adagio, Op. 201 07:47
- Track
- 14
- Title
- Adagio, Op. 201
- Duration
- 07:47
- Composer
- Charles Koechlin
- Performer
- Christian Schmitt
-
15 I. Pastorale - Fanfare (Clair, joyeux) 01:11
- Track
- 15
- Title
- I. Pastorale - Fanfare (Clair, joyeux)
- Duration
- 01:11
- Composer
- Charles Koechlin
- Performer
- Christian Schmitt
-
16 II. Allegro vivace (non troppo) 00:58
- Track
- 16
- Title
- II. Allegro vivace (non troppo)
- Duration
- 00:58
- Composer
- Charles Koechlin
- Performer
- Christian Schmitt
-
17 III. Calme et doux 02:08
- Track
- 17
- Title
- III. Calme et doux
- Duration
- 02:08
- Composer
- Charles Koechlin
- Performer
- Christian Schmitt
-
18 IV. Andante (non troppo lento) 01:48
- Track
- 18
- Title
- IV. Andante (non troppo lento)
- Duration
- 01:48
- Composer
- Charles Koechlin
- Performer
- Christian Schmitt
-
19 V. Andante quasi adagio 02:01
- Track
- 19
- Title
- V. Andante quasi adagio
- Duration
- 02:01
- Composer
- Charles Koechlin
- Performer
- Christian Schmitt
-
20 Adagio, Op. 211 03:31
- Track
- 20
- Title
- Adagio, Op. 211
- Duration
- 03:31
- Composer
- Charles Koechlin
- Performer
- Christian Schmitt
-
21 I. Allegretto 01:55
- Track
- 21
- Title
- I. Allegretto
- Duration
- 01:55
- Composer
- Charles Koechlin
- Performer
- Christian Schmitt
-
22 II. Allegretto 01:59
- Track
- 22
- Title
- II. Allegretto
- Duration
- 01:59
- Composer
- Charles Koechlin
- Performer
- Christian Schmitt
-
23 III. Pastorale: Allegro moderato - Quasi Allegretto 01:04
- Track
- 23
- Title
- III. Pastorale: Allegro moderato - Quasi Allegretto
- Duration
- 01:04
- Composer
- Charles Koechlin
- Performer
- Christian Schmitt
-
24 Fugue modale, Op. 204bis 03:30
- Track
- 24
- Title
- Fugue modale, Op. 204bis
- Duration
- 03:30
- Composer
- Charles Koechlin
- Performer
- Christian Schmitt