|
C. Franck is one of the rare composers of organ music who can be
spoken of in the same breath withJohann Sebastian Bach. In 1890 Franck
composed the "Trois Chorals", his homage to Bach. The third
"Choral", in a minor, is a three
movement work and opens with a Prelude. The central section, an adagio
in A Major, is a contrasting cantilena. The mood of the opening section
returns in the concluding section, which contains elements of all that
came before and ends in A Major.
Harpsichord music
of the French composers at the end of the 17th century is part of the
most original sides of European culture. In F. Couperin's, J.Ph. Rameau's
and L.C. Daquin's "Miniatures" life in this gallant century
is presented pretty vividly. There you find an exhibition of human portraits,
descriptions of landscapes as well as scenes from every day life. The
interpretation of these uvres on the bajan gives them a very special
attraction.
O. Messiaen ranks
with the most important French composers of the 20th century. His oeuvres
for organ take a special place in his work. Deeply religious, he meditates
in his works about life and death, God and eternity. Today the nine
Christmas meditations "La Nativité
du Seigneur" ("The birth of Christ") are included
in the repertoire of leading organists all over the world, while certain
sections of it are being increasingly used as an integral part of the
church service. Their theological horizon is enviably broad and sustained.
Meditation Nr 9 "Dieu parmi nous" ("God
among us") is the solemn apogee of the cycle.
Stimulated by
Friedrich Lips - K. Wolkow wrote a second sonata
in 1980, thus honouring the 600-year-jubilee of the battle of Kulikow,
in which relevant motives depict the fight between Russians and Tatars.
As it is usual for Wolkow, he uses old Russian songs in his two movement
œuvre. At the beginning orthodox hymns are dominating, the second part
shows Tatar songs until - at the end - there is peace and quiet. After
this battle that was extremely important for Russia's history, the country
could finally be united.
Russian composers
like M. Glinka, N. Rimskij-Korsakow or P.I. Tschaikowskij have always
been attracted by Spanish music. In his "Ispaniada"
Wl. Solotarjow presents, in tuneful melodies and rhythmic effects,
various images of Spain in a way a Russian imagines this country.
|