CARL NIELSEN · RUED LANGAARD : Organ Works (Friedhelm Flamme) (2010) SACD | Two Version | FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

Friedhelm Flamme, known for his seven successful releases in our Northern German Organ Baroque Edition, now takes a change of pace for cpo and on SACD with the complete organ works of Carl Nielsen and five organ pieces by Rued Langgaard. Of all the potential influences on Nielsen, the Danish offshoot of the German »organ movement« must have been the most important one; this pathbreaking return to old baroque principles left its imprint on organ design during the twentieth century, and its ideals met with great resonance in Nielsen, whose anti-romantic vein likewise made itself noticeable in his contributions to the National Symphony Orchestrang tradition and to the revival of the symphony. A little piece entitled »Melody, « first published in the complete edition of his piano and organ works in 2006, now has its place in his organ oeuvre and is presented here as a recording premiere. Flamme interprets these organ compositions of high art and imagination on the Mühleisen organ in the Bad Gandersheim Monastery Church. jpc
CARL NIELSEN (1865-1931) - Complete Organ Works   
1.  Festival Prelude To The New Century     1:28
2-30. 29 Short Preludes Op. 51    (29:56)
31-32.    Two Posthumous Preludes
33.    Melody    0:44
34.    Commotio Op. 58    20:15
RUED LANGAARD (1893-1952) - Selected Organ Works    
35.    Kristi Himmelfartsdag    2:02
36.    Begravet    2:40
37.    Hostpraeludium    4:19
38.    Ved Axel Gades    2:16
39.    Bryllupsmarsch    1:49
Credits : 
Organ [Mühleisen-Orgel] – Friedhelm Flamme
Cover artwork: Piccadilly Circus by George Hyde Pownall (1876-1932)
Recording: Stiftskirche zu Bad Gandersheim, May, 1 & 2, 2008

CARL NIELSEN : Complete Piano Music (Martin Roscoe) 2xCD (2008) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Though perhaps not the finest recordings of some of the better known works here -- the competition from John Ogdon and Leif Ove Andsnes is particularly stiff -- Martin Roscoe's effort includes everything Nielsen wrote for the instrument including pieces so rarely recorded as to be nearly unknown to all but the most devoted Nielsen aficionado. Where else, for example, can one go to hear both books of the composer's light and lively Piano Music for Young and Old and his grandiose and grandiloquent Festival Prelude for the New Century? Roscoe's performances of these works, indeed, his performances of all the works here, are never less than persuasive. With his powerful technique and refined tone, he's appropriately intimate in the Grieg-inspired Five Piano Pieces as well as appropriately monumental in the craggy Chaconne. And though those who know Ogdon's terrifying Chaconne and Andsnes' frightening "Lucifer" Suite may find Roscoe's readings don't pack quite the same emotional punch, those who want to hear Nielsen's charming contrapuntal fantasy called A Dream about "Silent Night" will perforce have to dip into this set. Hyperion's sound is full, detailed, and deep. by James Leonard