Charles Ives composed his Variations on ‘America’ when he was 17 and working as church organist in his home town. Originally composed for organ, the work was later popularized in a 1949 arrangement for orchestra by William Schuman; William E. Rhoads provided the wind band transcription in 1964. This composition of five variations represents the earliest known example of musical polytonality. They are humorous in character and full of surprises. He used his musical unorthodoxy to assert his independence from the genteel musical life of 19th century New England, while demonstrating his ability to be a “cut up” to his male peers. He was also asserting his devout patriotism.


Variations on America (1891) - Charles Ives (1874-1954)

Played on the Schnitger/Hinz organ of the Martinichurch in Groningen. It was a small concert played by students of the University of Arts Berlin. There was no time for preparation(exept for the registration), so it`s not perfect. But the organ is magnificent.

Primus Versus a 4
Secundus Versus auff 2 Clavir
Tertius Versus Auff 2 Clavir a 4
Quartus Versus a 3

Matthias Weckmann (1616-1674) - Gelobet seystu Jesu Christ (I)

Jan Welmers is a well-known Dutch organist/composer. Litanie - one of his best known compositions for organ- starts out very quiet in a minimal almost trance-like way....slowly the piece develops, the movements become faster until they reach a breakingpoint. After this breakingpoint the atmposphere changes completely and after a while all hell breaks loose. After an impressive buildup (wich reminds me in someway a little of Stravinsky's Sacre...) there comes an enormous climax (watch your speakers). After this climax the music slowly desolves back into nothingness...space... 
(Sounds best with headphones)
-Enjoy it-
Concert played on 15/03/2010 on the Klais organ of the the Hedwig Cathedral in Berlin.


Jan Welmers (1937) - Litanie (1988)

Live recording from Kunststation St. Peter in Cologne (Oktober 28. 2017)

Juan Felipe Waller - Chemicangelo part III

Live recording from Kunsstation St. Peter in Cologne (Oktober 28. 2017)

Luciano Berio - Fa-Si (2.0)for organ.

Live recording 

Concert on the Goll-organ of the "Eglise Francaise" in Bern, Switzerland.

Mouvt. III "Fugue" from "Sonata on the 94th Psalm" by Julius Reubke (1834-1858)

Ein Orgelwerk von Charlotte Seither(*1965)

Himmelsspalt würde in 2001 geschrieben als Auftragswerk für die WDR.

""Himmelsspalt beschäftigt sich mit Klangbildern, die auf verschiedene Weise zum "Prinzip Orgel“ (= lange ausgehaltener, unbeweglicher Klang) in Beziehung stehen: Neben Linien und geräuschhaften Pedalattacken spielen kurze, harte Tutti-Schläge eine Rolle, mit denen aufkeimende Beziehungen stets wieder durchbrochen und in einen neuen Zusammenhang gestellt werden. Es entsteht eine Art "Grammatik der Klangbilder" zwischen Linie und Cut, die vom Spieler getragen wird." - Charlotte Seither

Orgel(n) des St. Peters (Kunsstation St. Peter) in Köln.

Himmelsspalt - Charlotte Seither

Organ arrangement of a Stars in Battledress composition.
Composed by Richard and James Larcombe.
From the album "Secrets and Signals" (2003)

Live from Kunststation St. Peter in Cologne (2018)

Remind Me Of The Thames Or Else (Live)- Stars in Battledress

Live concert recording in the "Kunstation St. Peter" in Cologne.e

Les Communiantes is Vivier's only mature composition for organ, an instrument he played in his teenage years. The title comes from a painting of two young communicants he kept at his desk wich had a profound impact on him; he has noted that the painting "entered into me and my writing"- Completed around the time of his return from his journey to Asia, the work clearly absorbs lessons from these foreigen experiences

- Bob Gilmore

Image: Les Communiantes -  Louise Thibault

Les Communiantes (pour Orgue) -  Claude Vivier (1948-1983)

Live recording.
Concert in the Lutheran church in Groningen, Netherlands.

"Batalla" is an electronic composition by the Dutch composer and electronic music specialist René Uijlenhoet (*1961). Immediately after this piece I played "Circuli" for organ solo by the Austrian organist/composer Franz Danksagmüller (*1969).

Batalla - René Uijlenhoet/ Circuli - Franz Danksagmüller

I'm a concert-organist from the Netherlands living and working in Berlin.

Age Freerk Bokma

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