Inspired by Bach – Organ works by Schumann, Eggen, Valen & Bach

INSPIRED BY BACH

It is the young Norwegian organist Anders Eidsten Dahl who has recorded the CD “Inspired by Bach” with music by Robert Schumann, Arne Eggen, Fartein Valen and Johann Sebastian Bach. Common for these composers are the influence of Bach in their creative mission. In Robert Schumann´s “Skizzen für den Pedalflügel” and “Studien für den Pedalflügel – Sechs Stücke in kanonischer Form”, written for the now relatively unusual pedal grand piano, Schumann seeks to build a connection between a contrapuntal way of thinking and a poetic expression. Schumann himself believed that the pedal grand piano, which was somewhat widespread in the 19th century, would become the piano of the future. However, the quality of the music has made it fit within the central romantic organ repertoire. Arne Eggen was organist in Bragernes church between 1908-24 and wrote his grand Ciaconna for organ in 1917. When the Danish organ builder Carsten Lund built the organ in 1998, one chose to use seven-eight very central parts from the old Claus Jensen-organ which had survived in the several re-built organ from 1872. Several of the most important parts in today´s organ are actually from the time Eggen was organist in the church.

This is the first time the work is available on CD, a work that must be said to be one of the most central Norwegian organ works from the romantic tradition. Fartein Valen had like most composers of his generation, an organist exam. However, he wrote only two organ works, “Preludium og fuge” og “Pastorale”, now for the first time available on CD. Both works are good examples of Valen´s personal dissonating contra punt where Valen has left much of the musical colouring to the performer. The main organ in Bragernes church is built (1998) by the Danish organ builder Carsten Lund. Lund is counted among the most well-esteemed organ builders in the Nordic countries today. The organ and the room in Bragernes church are among the most splendid in Norway, and romantic organ music becomes the instrument especially we