Toccata and Lament was composed on commission in 2008 to inaugurate the large new organ in the Christ Church Cathedral Rochester NY USA. This instrument is a detailed reconstruction of a late Baroque organ of 1776 from Vilnius in Lithuania. The point of departure a clash of contrasting eras and musical cultures on two continents already bodes excitement. Martin Herchenröder a composer and professor of music theory has incorporated these contrasts in his roughly eight-minute composition. The result is a musical idiom of rare distinction universal in its musical resources and alternating between tonal triads and extremely dissonant clusters. The heart of the pieceis a dirge which using the Baroque doctrine of the affections relates to Eastern European cultural history in and around Vilnius a history marked by the predations of 20th-Century war.Expressive and effective contemporary organ musicAmalgam of musical traditions from the 18th to 21st CenturyExplanatory foreword by the composer (Ger/Eng)

While organ music of the 19th century was not highly regarded in Germany a few years ago [with the exception of a few outstanding works], our understanding of it has grown during recent years. In other countries 19th century organ music has retained its place in the repertoire to a far greater extent. This three-volume collection presents playable organ works of high quality for both liturgical and concert use. Most of the pieces have not yet been available in new editions [at the time of publication], and are made accessible to a wider public for the first time. The first two volumes contain pieces which were composed in, or introduced to, the German-speaking area of Europe between1800 and 1900; some of them point back stylistically to the 18th century. The focus of the third volume is on works by French, British, and American composers. There are also organ pieces from Bohemia, Belgium, Denmark, and even Brazil./ Répertoire / Orgue

Konzertante Orgelmusik aus vier Jahrhunderten - Concert Organ Music from four Centuries-Conceived by Martin Weyer this edition ranges in style from 17th century Portuguese Organ music to French and American works of the 19th century. It also contains a selection of German Organ music including lesser-known works by Bach and other pieces from Robert Schumann to Ernst Pepping.In addition to the original compositions Organ arrangements have also been included. A detailed Foreword offers information on the music-historical context of each work and suggestions for its performance.- Original pieces and attractive arrangements for Organ.- Easy to moderately difficult concert music for Organ.- Includes a broad rangeof styles.From the contents:Braga ?Batalha sexti toni? / Bach ?Concerto in F major after Vivaldi? (BWV 978) and six Organ chorales (transposed to keys of the Lutheran hymnal) / Hoyer ?Fughetta no. 2 in C major? from op. 62 / Arnold Mendelssohn ?Partita ?Wir Christenleut?? from op. 104 / Pepping from ?Bohemian Organ Book II: Christus der uns selig macht? / Degen two preludes from the ?Oberrheinisches Orgelbuch? / Micheelsen ?Toccata? from ?Holstein Little Organ Book? / Yon ?Humoresque? / Rogers ?Toccatina? / Parker ?Risoluto? op. 68 no. 1 / Rogers ?Carillon? (finale from ?Sonatina in D major?)

With more enthusiasts than ever since its heyday the Harp is an instrument which has successfully demonstrated its staying power and its important role both in music and beyond! John Marson’s Book of the Harp is a uniqueand definitive work distilled from a wealth of experience: a lifetime's study and research and an outstanding professional career. He traces the development of the harp from its earliest origins thousands of years B.C. to theinvention of the pedal harp in the eighteenth century and the harps of the twenty first century. He examines the writings of many forgotten exponents of the harp including inventors players and composers and provides a fullycomprehensive view of every model make and modification to the present day!The Book of the Harp is a rich source of information entertainment and anecdote on everything from strings tuning principles offingering and tone production historical influences designs techniques and methods to the harp's literary associations and those with the theatre and cinema its Celtic and religious symbolism virtuoso players and itsappearance in the poetry of Milton and novels of Jane Austen. Both historical and practical The Book of the Harp is an authoritative source of entertainment and a fascinating study for student professionalmusician and interested reader alike. John Marson has enjoyed a glittering career during which he has been principal harpist of the London Symphony Orchestra the BBC Symphony Orchestra Professor of Harp at the Royal College ofMusic and soloist and freelance.

Jan Sweelinck (1562-1621) was among the most famous organists of seventeenth century Europe and an influential composer in the Dutch and North German tradition. Bridging both Renaissance and Baroque styles the Dutch composer is best remembered for the inventive sparkling music he wrote for organ and other keyboard instruments. This remarkable treasury includes nearly all of Sweelinck's brilliant keyboard works most of which have survived only in widely scattered seventeenth century manuscripts. In Sweelinck's day these were some of Europe's most popular pieces for organ and keyboard. Nowadays they retain every bit of their original intensity and vigour. Reproduced inthis authoritative complete-resource edition they will be welcomed by serious keyboard artists who will find them as praiseworthy today as they were when first known and played in Europe over three hundred years ago.

Neue Ausgabe sämtlicher Werke 5 2-At the cutting edge of scholarship.Detailed explanatory notes.Johann Jacob Froberger who lived from 1617 to 1667 developed a style of composition representing a synthesis of Italian French and English influences thereby setting new standards at that time. Only Jan Peterszoon Sweelinck can match Froberger in terms of significance for 17th century keyboard music.The text to each volume of the complete edition of Froberger?s Organ and Keyboard music is published in German and English comprising a critical commentary as well as a detailed foreword explaining the scope and subdivision of the edition and the editorial techniques.Also information on performance practice on instruments of the time and on ornamentation is included as well as details on Froberger?s biography.Volume V.2 like the previously published volume V.1 contains the musical text from an anonymous 17th century copy which was returned to the Berlin Singakademie from Kiev in 2001. It is divided into works of definitive authenticity new readings and two appendices containing works of doubtful authenticity and spurious arrangements.

Gustav Holst (1874-1934) is widely regarded as one of the most original of 20th century composers and The Planets composed in 1914-16 established him as a really popular composer. The work with its vivid sense of invention and use of driving rhythm is a masterpiece of the 20th century orchestral repertoire. Arthur Wills has transcribed these three movements from The Planets for organ to make a superb set of recital pieces or voluntaries.

Debussy’s beautiful beloved Clair De Lune was written as the third movement of his Suite Bergamasque at the turn of the last century. It was inspired by a poem of contemporary Paul Verlaine and is asignificant example of Debussy’s innovative use of key time and tonal colour. The piece has been arranged for Orchestra though not by Debussy Harp Guitar and many other instrumental combinations.Clair De Lune was composed for Piano in D flat and has here been transposed to C.

The Prelude de Profundis is excerpted from two sets of Preludes Howells composed for Organ of which this is the first of the second set. Entirely different in mood from the nervous energy of the Rhapsody Prelude de Profundis expresses the call ‘from the depths’.Herbert Howells is a giant of 20th century Anglican church music the remainder of whose oeuvre is in the process of gaining new appreciation.He left a body of distinguished Organ music of which these two works are fine examples. Howells’s first three rhapsodies for Organ were published together during the years of the first World War. It was not until forty years later that Howells returned to the form until although it shares many structural similarities with the earlier works.

Neuf méditations pour orgue-La Nativit? Du Seigneur by Olivier Messiaen was written in 1935 and depicts his Roman Catholic faith. Written for Organ this piece is considered “one of the great organ works of all time” and as a real masterpiece as said by R. F. Goldman the American composer. Divided into nine movements each portrays a concept related to the birth of Jesus: 1. La vierge et l'enfant (The Virgin and Child) 2. Les bergers (The Shepherds) 3. Desseins ?ternels (Eternal designs) 4. Le verbe (The Word) 5. Les enfants de Dieu (The Children of God) 6. Les anges (The Angels) 7.J?sus accepte la souffrance (Jesus accepts suffering) 8. Les mages (The Magi) 9. Dieu parmi nous (God Among Us) Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992) was a French organist and composer passionate about Ornithology and one of the most important composer of his century. Inspired by Japanese music he had a very special way of composing and his work can be identified by its complexity its diatonic aspect its harmony with limited transposition its colour and its additive rhythms. He composed many works related to ornithology and birdsong including the 'Bird Catalogue' in 7 volumes and the 'Treatise on rhythm colour and ornithology' in 7 volumes.

Arranged for the organ on the basis of the original string orchestra version-The composer pianist choir director and teacher Sir Charles Hubert Parry (1848-1918) was one of the most remarkable figures of the British music scene at the turn of the century. Among his most charming compositions are two suites for String Orchestra. The well-known organist and composer Wolfgang Stockmeier has arranged 'English Suite' for the Organ while keeping close to the original. The arrangement can be performed on the organ with brilliant effect transferring the atmosphere of the English late Romantic era onto the Organ.

The Four Quiet Voluntaries include a sprightly allegretto a lyrical air a lilting pastorale and variation and a theme on an Irish air. They fall within the abilities of moderately accomplished musicians.Eric Thiman was a 20th century composer teacher and Organist who was also an advocate of amateur music-making. He was a prolific composer of church music and Piano and Organ works and his craftsmanship and gift for melody were much admired. He was director of music at the City Temple in London. As an educator he was a professor at the Royal Academy of Music and he wrote many books on harmony counterpoint and musical form.