UPDATED 04/10/2008

FEATURED INSTRUMENT CONCERT   If you enjoy this concert, please donate by clicking on the button to the left! Harmonium Debain Paris (1874) and Harmonium Mannborg Leipzig (c. 1900) - Samples by Paul Delferriere Vierne, Louis: Préambule, Op. 31, No. 1 Serenely restful composition in 12/8 using the alternate registration for harmonium: Left Dolce 8' + Basson 8' Right Flûte 8' + Hautbois 8' (when Récit. is indicated, the Basson' and Hautbois disappear). [2:50] Midi file available. HW1 Vierne, Louis: Divertissement, Op. 31, No. 11 And an insouciant little diversion it is, utilizing, at the end, the entire resources of this instrument. [2:10] Midi file available. HW1 Buxtehude, Dietrich: Fuga in C Major "Gigue", BuxWV 174 A jolly old fugue in 12/8 time, played with virtually no registration changes on a two manual and pedal version of the Harmonium Debain - Paris [3:3] Midi file available. HW1 Gigout, Eugène: Finale La Part of a very large collection called the Gregorian Album by a composer more known for massing large bodies of sound, this charming piece, marked Allegro non troppo, uses fast and slow arpeggios, descending and ascending stepwise intervals and occasional descending parallel thirds, also showing the dynamic possibilities of the Harmonium Debain. [1:40] HW1 Bach, Johann Sebastian: Wir Christenleut, BWV 1090 From the recently discovered Neumeister collection. Original one manual version with terrace dynamics to delineate sections. [1:55] HW1 Brahms, Johannes: Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen A sublime setting in which the melody hops from voice to voice of the familiar Christmas hymn. Volume levels have been changed to simulate a two manual harmonium. [2:1] HW1 Vierne, Louis: Cortège, Op. 31, No. 2 Somewhat grotesque notions seem to haunt this funeral procession even when adapted for a single manual harmonium according to the composer's alternate registration instructiions. [3:19] Midi file available. HW1 Pressler, James: Prelude on "Cranham" 4 verses, beginning with the hymn melody, continuing with open fifths in the lower two voices, the third verse uses the melody in the tenor with a soprano descant, and the last verse is a variation of the usual hymn arrangement. [2:52] HW1 Froberger, J. J.: Capriccio V Imitative caprice in 3 sections. [2:3] HW1 Brahms, Johannes: O wie selig From the Eleven Preludes for organ, which place Lutheran hymnody in lyrically romantic settings. [1:30] HW1 Bach, Johann Sebastian: Herr Gott, Nun Schleuss den Himmel Auf, BWV 1092 There are a couple of echo effects, and a flourish near the end that is reminiscent of other chorale harmonizations. [2:14] HW1 Walther, Johann Gottfried: Partita on "Jesu, Meine Freude" Nine variations on a beloved German chorale, known in English as "Jesus, all my gladness," revealing an engaging variety of moods and compositional techniques, as well as showcasing a wide variety of combinations. [12:41] HW1