Elke Völker – Sigfrid Karg-Elert – Ultimate Organ Works Vol. 6 (2011) MCH SACD ISO

Elke Völker – Sigfrid Karg-Elert – Ultimate Organ Works Vol. 6 (2011)
SACD Rip | SACD ISO | DST64 2.0, 5.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 01:10:00 minutes | 3,21 GB
Genre: Classical | Publisher (label): Aeolus – AE-10721

Volume 6 of Elke Völkers Karg-Elert series on Aeolus contains books no. 3 and 4 of the composer’s « Chorale-Improvisations » op.65 (based on chorals for new year, easter, ascension and pentecost).

As often at Aeolus, an instrument has been chosen that has not yet been recorded on CD before: the E.F.Walcker organ of the Christ Church in Lüdenscheid, which has been restored very carefully and re-inaugurated in 2008. Today Elke Völker is considered – last but not least thanks to her series of Karg-Elert recordings on Aeolus – as an expert for his music. Her version of the chorale improvisation demonstrates skill and great respect for the work of this composer and thus can be considered as a reference.

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Elke Völker – Sigfrid Karg-Elert – Ultimate Organ Works Vol. 5 (2006) MCH SACD ISO

Elke Völker – Sigfrid Karg-Elert – Ultimate Organ Works Vol. 5 (2006)
SACD Rip | SACD ISO | DST64 2.0, 5.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 01:30:00 minutes | 2,92 GB
Genre: Classical | Publisher (label): Aeolus – AE-10591

Sigfrid Karg-Elert – Ultimate Organ Works Vol.5

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Elke Völker – Sigfrid Karg-Elert – Ultimate Organ Works Vol. 4 (2008) MCH SACD ISO

Elke Völker – Sigfrid Karg-Elert – Ultimate Organ Works Vol. 4 (2008)
SACD Rip | SACD ISO | DST64 2.0, 5.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 01:09:35 minutes | 3,14 GB
Genre: Classical | Publisher (label): Aeolus – AE-10511

Volume 4 of our Sigfrid Karg-Elert Edition contains an impressive collection of large scale secular organ works: Kaleidoscope, Seven Pastels from the Lake Constance, Rondo and Homage to Handel.

As already on volume 3 (AE-10431) of this editon, the Georg Stahlhuth organ (1912) of Saint-Martin in Dudelange, restored by Thomas Jann in 2002, again is an ideal instrument for Karg-Elert’s music – and Elke Völker is absolutely in her element here. She found incredibly beautiful registrations (based on Karg-Elerts indications of course!), especially in the Seven Pastels from the Lake Constance.

Kaleidoscope op.144 is a rather unknwon composition and can be considered as a brother of the big Symphonie in f sharp (op.143, recorded on Vol.1, AE-10121), because of some similarities in structure and harmonic language. The Seven Pastels are really close to the technical limits of the organ. The cycle is Karg-Elert’s only large-scale impressionistic composition and takes the expressive potential of the organ to its outer limits.

Rondo alla campanella is a dazzling 169-bar Allegrissimo in 3/8 time, in semiquavers throughout like a french Toccata.

Homage to Handel is a series of 54 variations on a ground bass of Handel. It’s a guide through all kinds of registrations of the wonderful Stahlhuth organ.

This is the first time we recorded this instrument in surround sound and as far as we know the first available Super Audio CD of this organ! The recording comes along in a nice digipack format with 28 pages booklet.

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