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VIRTUOSO ORGAN DUETS
Ravel – Paulus – Stravinsky
The Oxbridge Organ Duo
(Benedict Lewis-Smith, Julian Collings)
Organ of Blackburn Cathedral
118 in stock
Description
The Oxbridge Organ Duo was formed in 2015 by two former organ scholars to explore the unusual and somewhat neglected repertoire for organ duet. The Duo’s first commercial recording features three stunningly virtuoso works which explore the extremes of the organ duet medium and the full tonal resources of the magnificent Walker organ of Blackburn Cathedral.
Ravel’s famous ‘Boléro’ appears in a wonderful new guise transcribed by American organist, Andrew Senn. The exhilarating ‘Paean’ by another American composer, Steven Paulus, is a remarkable new and original minimalist toccata for organ duet. Stravinsky’s early ballet ‘The Firebird‘ explodes with multi-layered colour and expressive detail in this new transcription by distinguished Swiss organist, Guy Bovet.
Track List
Boléro – Maurice Ravel (1875–1937) transcribed Andrew Senn (b 1978)
16:48Paean – Stephen Paulus (1949–2014)
7:57The Firebird – Igor Stravinsky (1882–1971) transcribed Guy Bovet (b 1942) PART 1 (movements from the 1910 complete Ballet)
15:48Introduction
2:50The enchanted garden of Kashchei
2:05Appearance of the Firebird
2:14Dance of the Firebird
1:38Capture of the Firebird
1:01The Firebird’s Supplications
5:59Part II (movements from the 1945 Suite)
24:04Pantomime II
4:19Scherzo: Danse des Princesses
2:20Pantomime III
1:19Rondo (Khorovod)
4:53Danse infernale
4:57Berceuse (The Firebird)
3:18Final Hymn
2:57Total playing time: 64:38
Production credits
Supported by the GEMMA Classical Music Trust, Regd. Charity No. 1121090 www.gemmatrust.com
Recorded 3–5 January 2017 at Blackburn Cathedral by kind permission of the Dean, Chapter and Director of Music.
Cover image: © shutterstock.com.
Recording producer and engineer: Gary Cole
Sample audio extracts
Reviews
‘The effect is extrordinary, especially with Guy Bovet’s arrangement of The Firebird which is just so thrilling.’ BBC Radio 3 Record Review December 2018
‘The Firebird may be the mainstay here (and terrifically played), but Bolero wins with its use of just about every solo stop of the Blackburn Cathedral organ. Intriguing and fun.’
★★★★★ BBC Music January 2019
‘Benedict Lewis-Smith and Julian Collings are splendid in these works, and the recording on the great Walker organ of Blackburn Cathedral leaves nothing to the imagination.’ ★★★★★ The Organ November 2018
‘Highly recommended! If you’re looking for one of this year’s best organ recordings, this is it’ Classical Music Sentinel November 2018
‘Once again Regent have pulled a rabbit out of the hat, for recording quality, playing, appropriate instrument, and in the case sheer novelty…The playing throughout this extraordinarily demanding programme is uniformly first-rate, with nail-biting moments throughout.’ Sydney Organ Journal Autumn 2019