The first movement of Louis Viernes Messe Solennelle from 1899, for mixed choir and two organs. Kerstin Ek is conducting Kerstin Ek's Choir. The organ is an Allen and the recording is live from a concert in Eric Ericsonhallen in Stockholm in April 2013 which was part of the yearly Night of Culture.

The organ part is an arrangement by yours truly: I play both organ parts on one organ. Nothing is omitted.

Louis Vierne: Messe Solennelle - Kyrie

Sverige

"Vierne depicts the conflict between two very disparate themes: one diatonic, descending by thirds, the other one chromatic and anguished. The first movement is a tormented, painful prelude. Chromaticism dominates constantly, obsessively, restlessly and without centre."

Louis Vierne: Symphonie 5, First movement.

For Piano Circus.

Six digital pianos start out tuned to the normal 12-tone scale. As the piece progresses, the pianos gradually fan out until a 72-tone scale is reached in a play with gradually morphing overtone spectra.

Carillon

Astor Piazzolla: "Milonga del ángel". Originally for jazz quintet. Arrangement for organ by Peter Bengtson.

Astor Piazzolla: Milonga del ángel

To the very young fire god Agni Yahvishta. (1932)

Jehan Alain: Deux danses á Agni Yavishta

"Crucifigatur" – "Crucify him!" – is part of the suite "Seven Improvisations for Organ" by the Swedish Composer Torsten Nilsson (1920-1999), organist, composer and the choir master of Oscar's Church in Stockholm for about 20 years, where his Good Friday oratorio "Nox Angustiae", of which "Crucifigatur" forms the overture, received its premiere in 1968, achieving cult status during the years to come.

"Nox Angustiae" – Night of Anguish – which depicts the rage and chaos of the original Good Friday in an expressionist manner, is scored for double chorus, vocal soloists and large organ. To add to the experience, the work was always performed in a darkened church at midnight between Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. The performers read the music by faint blue light, but the rest of the church was in complete darkness except for the projection of a graphical leaflet on the ceiling of the church.

This recording was made in 1986 by the Swedish Radio, as part of a live broadcast performance of Nox Angustiae by the Täby Church Chamber Choir under Kerstin Ek. Organist: Peter Bengtson.

(Listening using headphones or a full frequency range speaker system is strongly recommended.) For a video version featuring the full score, please refer to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQIj3uJFD0A

Torsten Nilsson: Nox Angustiae: 1. Crucifigatur (organ overture)

This recording was made in 1986 by the Swedish Radio, as part of a live broadcast performance of Nox Angustiae by the Täby Church Chamber Choir under Kerstin Ek. Organist: Peter Bengtson.

Dicit illis Pilatus:
Quid igitur faciam de Jesu,
qui dicitur Christus?
Dicunt omnes:
Crucifigatur

Ait illis preses:
- Quid enim mali fecit?
At illi magis clamabant dicentes: 
- Crucifigatur

- Quemcumque osculatus fuero, ipse est.
- Quem queritis? 
- Iesum Nazarenum. 
- Ego sum.
- Ave Rabbi.

- Iuda, osculo Filium hominis tradis?
- Domine, si percutimus in gladio? 
Et amputavit illi auriculam.

- Et tu cum Iesu Nazareno eras. 
- Neque scio,neque novi quid dicas. 
- Quia hic ex illis est. Vere ex illis es: nam et Galilaeus es
Ille autem coepit anathematizae et iurare: 
- Quia nescio hominem istum, quem dicitis.

- Eliam vocat iste 
- Sine videamus am veniat Elias. 
- Vah qui destruis templum Dei. 
Sed sortiamur
Cantavit gallus.

- Mulier eccefilius tuus.
Jesu mater Maria,
Maria Cleophe,
Maria Magdalena.

- Eli, Eli, lamma sabacthani? 
- Ave Rabbi, Rex Iudeorum.

Torsten Nilsson: Nox Angustiae - 2. Crucifigatur (choir, soloists and organ)

This recording was made in 1986 by the Swedish Radio, as part of a live broadcast performance of Nox Angustiae by the Täby Church Chamber Choir under Kerstin Ek. 

Soprano: Åslög Rosén.
Organist: Peter Bengtson.

Torsten Nilsson: Nox Angustiae - 3. Lamento

This recording was made in 1986 by the Swedish Radio, as part of a live broadcast performance of Nox Angustiae by the Täby Church Chamber Choir under Kerstin Ek. Organist: Peter Bengtson.

Et postquam venerunt in locum qui vocatur Calvarie,
ibi crucifixerunt eum et latrones,
unum a dextris, et alterum a sinistris.
 
Jesus autem dicebat:
Pater, dimitte illis
nom enim sciut quid faciunt.

Dividentes vero vestimenta eius, miserut sortes,
Et stabat populus spectans,
et deridebant eum principes cum eis, dicentes:
Alios salvos fecit,
se salvum faciat
si hic est Christus Dei electus. 

Illudebant autem ei et milites accedentes,
et acetum offerentes ei 
et dicentes:
Si tu es rex Iudeorum,
salvum te fac.

Erat autem et superscriptio
scripta super eum litteris
graecis et latinis et hebraicis:
Hic est rex ludeorum.

Unus autem de his
qui pendebant, latronibus, 
blasphemabat eum, dicens:
Si tu es Christus
salvum fac temetipsum et nos. 

Respondens autem alter increpabat eum, dicens:
Neque tu times Deum,
quod in eadem damnatione es.
Et nos quidem iuste, nam digna
factis recipimus:
hic vero nihil mali gessit. 

Et dicebat ad Iesum: Domine, memento mei,
cum veneris in regnum tuum. 

Et dixit illi Iesus:
Amen dico tibi:
Hodie mecum eris in paradiso.

Audite, caeli,
et auribus percipe, terra, 
Quoniam Dominus locutus est.
Vae genti peccatrici,
populo gravi iniquitate, 
Semini nequam filiis sceleratis! 
Dereliquerunt Dominum, blasphemaverunt Sanctum Israel.

Et sonabit super eum sicut sonitus maris, 
Et ecce in terram,
et ecce tenebrae.

NOX ANGUSTIAE.

Vivit Dominus! 
Et exaltetur Deus salutis meae!
Populus qui ambulabat in tenebris, 
Vidit lucem magnam: 
Habitantibus in regionem umbrae mortis,
Lux orta es eis.

Parvulus enim natus est nobis... 

Gloria Patri et Filio, 
et Spiritui Sancto,
Sicut erat, et nunc, et semper,
et in saecula saeculorum. 
Amen. Alleluia.

Torsten Nilsson: Nox Angustiae - 4. Dimitte illis - 5. Audite, caeli

vierne 5, movement 4, test recording

Händel's Hallelujah chorus stretched to 33 minutes. 
For those very special classical Christmas bong evenings. 

Händel for stoners

Mountains (La Cathédrale du mont) by Anders Nilsson was composed in 1984, and was subsequently awarded the Grand Prix International du Composition pour Orgue at the Festival Organa in St. Rémy, France, in 1992. 

The piece is dedicated to Peter Bengtson, who also is the organist in this recording, made at the world premiére in 1985, in Oscar Church in Stockholm, Sweden, on the magnificent four-manual Marcussen organ built in 1949. (The church can be seen in the picture to the upper left.)

Published by Edition Reimers. More info at www.andersnilssoncomposer.com.

For a YouTube video of this recording, featuring the full score, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKfDGXyCNKA

Peter Bengtson

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