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Mendelssohn: Organ Sonatas / Jonathan Dimmock

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Details

Composer
MENDELSSOHN, FELIX
Artist
Jonathan Dimmock
Format
CD
Label
Loft
Released
Jan 01, 2010
Catalog #
LRCD-1112
UPC
617145111227

About



MENDELSSOHN Organ Sonatas, op. 65 • Jonathan Dimmock (org) • LOFT 1112 (77:44)


Felix Mendelssohn, in addition to being one of the most respected composers, conductors, and one of the greatest pianists of his day, was also one of the finest organists and improvisers of his age. At least on two occasions he produced large-scale collections for the instrument: the Three Preludes and Fugues, op. 37, and the Six Organ Sonatas, op. 65. The sonatas come from the last decade of his life, but rather than being a grand forward-looking statement, they are a synthesis of his lifelong interest in Baroque forms and textures (Bach in particular here) and his own personal style, a fusion that can be seen as early as the youthful Characteristic Pieces, op. 7.


As with many organ recitals, the overall success of a performance is dependent on a variety of factors. The mechanical ability of the organist and his or her personal taste in registration are both important keys. (Mendelssohn himself states that “much depends in these sonatas on the right choice of the stops. … I have given only a general indication of the kind of effect intended to be produced, without giving a precise list of the particular stops to be used.”) Another of the important factors is the instrument that is chosen for the recording and the acoustic of the recording space itself. These last two facets do not always come together fruitfully. Oftentimes, even when an attractive-sounding organ is chosen, the space is less than ideal. Other times, the reverse can be said. Happily, when both of these aspects, along with a talented organist, come together, there is the possibility of a great recording, as is the case here.


Jonathan Dimmock, who has held posts everywhere from Westminster Abbey in London to the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York, chooses the beautiful-sounding 1787 Holzhey organ in the Kloster Weißenau in Ravensburg, Germany, an organ which, according to him, is virtually unknown. And, if that is true, it is a pity. The organ, while being on the smaller side, has some very attractive features; Dimmock so properly describes its sound as “strong, without being strident, warm, without being muddy, clear, without being self-consciously bright.” These all take place in a stunning acoustical setting. Dimmock, throughout, chooses excellently balanced and nuanced registrations that characterize these sonatas well, from the aggressive opening of the First Sonata to the calm chorale of the Sixth Sonata’s theme. His ease of the difficult pedal passages, along with his free, almost improvisatory way, does much to bring life to these compositions, which in some hands sounds simply mundane.


Though, like many composers, Mendelssohn is remembered for only a handful of works, these lesser-known sonatas provide a well-balanced view of his freedom in formal structures (sonatas that, rather than using sonata-allegro structures, are built more like multimovement suites), elaborate counterpoint, melodic invention, and improvisational skills that were such a part of their composer. Dimmock’s performances are sensitive to many of the details that make this music special: he is lively at times, dramatic when necessary, and equally meditative when called for. Heartily recommended.


FANFARE: Scott Noriega

Tracklist 24 tracks

  1. 1 I. Allegro moderato e serioso 06:11
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Allegro moderato e serioso
    Duration
    06:11
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Jonathan Dimmock
  2. 2 II. Adagio 03:03
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Adagio
    Duration
    03:03
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Jonathan Dimmock
  3. 3 III. Recitative: Andante 03:05
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Recitative: Andante
    Duration
    03:05
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Jonathan Dimmock
  4. 4 IV. Allegro assai vivace 03:57
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Allegro assai vivace
    Duration
    03:57
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Jonathan Dimmock
  5. 5 I. Grave - 01:47
    Track
    5
    Title
    I. Grave -
    Duration
    01:47
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Jonathan Dimmock
  6. 6 I. Adagio 03:18
    Track
    6
    Title
    I. Adagio
    Duration
    03:18
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Jonathan Dimmock
  7. 7 II. Allegro maestoso e vivace 02:10
    Track
    7
    Title
    II. Allegro maestoso e vivace
    Duration
    02:10
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Jonathan Dimmock
  8. 8 III. Fuga: Allegro moderato 04:20
    Track
    8
    Title
    III. Fuga: Allegro moderato
    Duration
    04:20
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Jonathan Dimmock
  9. 9 I. Con moto maestoso 08:06
    Track
    9
    Title
    I. Con moto maestoso
    Duration
    08:06
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Jonathan Dimmock
  10. 10 II. Andante tranquillo 02:19
    Track
    10
    Title
    II. Andante tranquillo
    Duration
    02:19
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Jonathan Dimmock
  11. 11 I. Allegro con brio 04:06
    Track
    11
    Title
    I. Allegro con brio
    Duration
    04:06
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Jonathan Dimmock
  12. 12 II. Andante religioso 02:18
    Track
    12
    Title
    II. Andante religioso
    Duration
    02:18
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Jonathan Dimmock
  13. 13 III. Allegretto 03:34
    Track
    13
    Title
    III. Allegretto
    Duration
    03:34
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Jonathan Dimmock
  14. 14 IV. Allegro maestoso e vivace 04:58
    Track
    14
    Title
    IV. Allegro maestoso e vivace
    Duration
    04:58
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Jonathan Dimmock
  15. 15 I. Andante 01:23
    Track
    15
    Title
    I. Andante
    Duration
    01:23
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Jonathan Dimmock
  16. 16 II. Andante con moto 02:31
    Track
    16
    Title
    II. Andante con moto
    Duration
    02:31
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Jonathan Dimmock
  17. 17 III. Allegro maestoso 05:14
    Track
    17
    Title
    III. Allegro maestoso
    Duration
    05:14
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Jonathan Dimmock
  18. 18 I. Choral 02:01
    Track
    18
    Title
    I. Choral
    Duration
    02:01
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Jonathan Dimmock
  19. 19 II. Variation 1: Andante sostenuto 02:01
    Track
    19
    Title
    II. Variation 1: Andante sostenuto
    Duration
    02:01
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Jonathan Dimmock
  20. 20 II. Variation 2 01:06
    Track
    20
    Title
    II. Variation 2
    Duration
    01:06
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Jonathan Dimmock
  21. 21 II. Variation 3 01:42
    Track
    21
    Title
    II. Variation 3
    Duration
    01:42
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Jonathan Dimmock
  22. 22 II. Variations 4-5: Allegro molto 03:32
    Track
    22
    Title
    II. Variations 4-5: Allegro molto
    Duration
    03:32
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Jonathan Dimmock
  23. 23 III. Fuga: Sostenuto e legato 02:49
    Track
    23
    Title
    III. Fuga: Sostenuto e legato
    Duration
    02:49
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Jonathan Dimmock
  24. 24 IV. Finale: Andante 02:49
    Track
    24
    Title
    IV. Finale: Andante
    Duration
    02:49
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Jonathan Dimmock