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Track(s) taken from CDA67577

Prelude 'for a Solemn Occasion'

composer
1949 for orchestra and narrator; 1953 organ arrangement by Copland

Christopher Herrick (organ)
Recording details: January 2006
Eugene McDermott Concert Hall, Morton H Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas, USA
Produced by Paul Spicer
Engineered by Andrés Villalta
Release date: August 2006
Total duration: 5 minutes 5 seconds
 

Reviews

‘As we have come to expect from Christopher Herrick and Hyperion everything is done to the highest standard. The varied and exciting programme is convincingly played, making full use of the extensive tonal spread of the organ, whilst the accompanying programme notes are both comprehensive and interesting … another fine organ firework display, which I'm certain readers will enjoy’ (Cathedral Music)

‘Christopher Herrick is his usual inimitable self, combing a sense of fun with a spontaneous grandeur which is at times, totally arresting. The listener is also regaled with the impressive sound of the Lay Family Organ in Dallas, Texas, a 4535-pipe monster. Volume XII please?’ (Classical.net)

‘Some wonderful pieces to hear … the rich sounding recording makes the most of the fireworks’ (Essex Chronicle)
Aaron Copland (1900–1990) wrotes this work in 1949 in response to a commission from the National Broadcasting Company, who wanted something to mark the United Nations’ adoption of the Declaration of Human Rights. In its original form it was for narrator and orchestra; the composer himself made this organ arrangement in 1953. The stark, arresting opening leads to gentle, sustained music that could be the work of no one but Copland. A section in D major, directed to be played dolce cantabile, contains a broad, chorale-like melody which, after further gentle, sustained music, is heard, fortissimo, in E flat major. The music broadens and concludes majestically in C major.

from notes by Relf Clark © 2006

Le Preamble (for a Solemn Occasion) d’Aaron Copland (1900–1990) fut écrit en 1949 suite à une commande de la National Broadcasting Company pour marquer l’adoption par les Nations Unies de la Déclaration des droits de l’homme. En 1953, le compositeur arrangea pour orgue ce morceau originellement écrit pour narrateur et orchestre. L’ouverture âpre, saisissante, débouche sur une musique paisible, tenue, qui ne pouvait être que de Copland. Une section en ré majeur, à jouer dolce cantabile, renferme une ample mélodie de type choral qui, passé une douce musique tenue, survient, fortissimo, en mi bémol majeur. La musique s’élargit pour s’achever majestueusement en ut majeur.

extrait des notes rédigées par Relf Clark © 2006
Français: Hypérion

Aaron Copland (1900–1990) schrieb das Stück 1949 als Auftragswerk der National Broadcasting Company, die etwas zur Feier aus Anlass der Annahme der Allgemeinen Erklärung der Menschenrechte durch die Vereinten Nationen haben wollte. Ursprünglich war das Stück für Sprecher und Orchester. 1953 bearbeitete der Komponist dieses Werk selber für Orgel. Ein steifer, fesselnder Anfang führt zu sanfter, getragener Musik, die kein anderer als Copland hätte komponieren könnte. Ein mit dolce cantabile überschriebener Abschnitt in D-Dur enthält eine breite, choralartige Melodie, die dann nach weiterer sanfter, getragener Musik fortissimo in Es-Dur erklingt. Die Musik weitet sich und schließt majestätisch in C-Dur.

aus dem Begleittext von Relf Clark © 2006
Deutsch: Elke Hockings

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