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Organ Duo - Jokimies, Lampén

Organ Duo - Jokimies, Lampén

Fuga  FUGA-9287

Stereo/Multichannel Hybrid

Classical - Instrumental


John Philip Sousa: The Stars and Stripes forever, Paul Lindsley Thomas: Prelude Op. 29 No. 2 "Puer nobis nascitur", Prelude Op. 29 No. 1 "Cradle Song", Samuel Wesley: Duet for Organ "Allegro", Johann Christoph Kellner: Fugue in D mino, Quartetto, Adolph Friedrich Hesse: Fantasy in C minor Op. 35, Antonin Dvorak: Slavonic Dance in E minor Op. 72 No. 2, Gustav Merkel: Sonata in D minor Op. 30, Johann Heinrich Löffler: Gebet (Prayer), Richard Wagner: The Ride of the Valkyries

Jaana Jokimies, Irina Lampén (organ - four hands)

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Recording, editing and mastering: Mika Koivusalo
SACD mastering: DER/Esa Santonen
Reviews (1)
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Review by John Miller - December 4, 2009

It is not widely known that the enormous popularity of piano duets in the later C19th and early C20th was paralleled with demands for organ duets. These are little heard now, and there are few on recorded media. We are thus indebted to Jaana Jokimies and Irina Lampén for their well-conceived and splendidly executed duo performance in high-resolution sound.

The Porthan organ at Kotka Church in southern Finland was based on the 1714 Silbermann organ at Freiberg Cathedral, but its Baroque style is also suitable for Classical and Romantic works, as this programme eloquently demonstrates. Bookending the recital are two show-piece arrangements; opening proceedings is Sousa's 'Stars and Stripes' march in an arrangement by Elizabeth and Raymond Chenault. At first, it brings to mind a fair-ground organ (an uncommon experience these days), but the heavy stops soon give way in the repeat to a glittering descant of silvery flutes and mixtures. The disc concludes with a transcription of Wagner's 'The Ride of the Valkyries' which is equally great fun; orchestral textures are simulated by all kinds of Baroque stops, the big pedal reeds are thunderous indeed and there is a resounding virtuoso flourish up to the final cadence.

In between, there are some carefully chosen and very worthwhile pieces originally written for duettists. Played as sympathetically as this and showing off so many of the organ's tonal colours, they are most welcome novelties. I was particularly beguiled by one of Dvorak's loveliest Slavonic Dances (based on the composers own piano duet setting), its gurgling melody and accompaniment ooze charm, and the trio on the shorter, sweeter pipes is simply exquisite.

At the centre of the programme is Gustav Merkel's Sonata in D minor, a three movement work, each inspired by a Psalm; this is the most "meaty" item on show. It begins with an epic drama where its virtuoso pedal part is shared between the two players and merges a gamut of styles from Baroque through Classical to Romantic. The sonata has a songful adagio musing on the text of 'The Lord is my Shepherd' and a fiery, magnificent concluding fugue.

Sonically, this SACD is a marvel of crystalline purity and sharp focus. Every wave-front from the speaking pipes is captured in detail, and the pedal bass is truly impressive, well-extended with real attack, which contributes much to the musicality of the performances. In 5.0 multichannel, the impression of one's listening room being converted into a church is stunning. Engineer Mika Koivusalo also is considerate enough to continue the slight blower noise (only audible at high playback volume levels) as an off-white noise background between tracks, avoiding the usual blank gaps.

The attractively illustrated booklet has very good notes on the music, players and organ in Finnish and English.

Fuga should be congratulated on their rich and wide-ranging organ catalogue, to which this is a desirable adjunct. Bravo to Jaana Jokimies and Irina Lampén for stylish and thrilling playing; this is a disc to relish and play at high volume. Enjoy!

Copyright © 2009 John Miller and HRAudio.net

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