From quiet liturgical pieces and hymns to awe-inspiring symphonies, the varied and inspired compositions of Carson Cooman make him the foremost American composer of today specializing in music for the grand organ. Each of the albums has been recorded using the Hauptwerk system to bring to life the sound of a number of sublime instruments […]

A special album of works for Christmas – many of them arrangements and fantasias on well-loved hymns and carols, and some new dedicated compositions. All the music is by Carson Cooman, composer in residence at the Memorial Church, Harvard University, and America’s most prolific composer of works for organ. This music is just as good […]

The disc opens strongly with the song cycle Chasing the Moon Down. The texts are skilfully crafted, the images and allusions highly effective, and they have called forth music worthy of them, in tonal language highly reminiscent of Samuel Barber at his best. This composition is a genuine masterpiece – no other word will do. [Katarzyna Sadej has] a stunningly rich, beautiful voice. The production values are high… all the participating artists give fine performances. Cooman is clearly not just a talented composer but a genuinely gifted one.

The present anthology contains two well-filled discs of organ music, the medium in which I believe Cooman has written more music than any other. Indeed, his compositional legacy for the instrument will surely be considered one of the more important of his era in 100 years. Cooman has his own voice, and someone well-versed in his music will easily spot his fingerprints, which in­clude a sure sense of counterpoint containing occasional piquant sonorities out of diatonicism, sur­prising turns of melody, and unexpected harmonies. The work that closes the set, Canzona II, is among the most majestic organ works that I have ever heard. If you admire Cooman’s music, as I do, or if you simply desire to hear two and a half hours’ worth of finely wrought organ music by a master of the instrument, this will be a set that you will certainly want to acquire. Definitely recommended to organ enthusiasts, and to others as well.

A most enjoyable addition to my Cooman collection. [Cooman] may well be the most significant currently active composer for his instrument. Erik Simmons plays as well as ever, with finesse and imaginative registration. Strongly recommended.

Divine Art Records will be releasing two more volumes this year in its continuing series Carson Cooman Organ Music. The extraordinarily talented and prolific writer, organist, composer and teacher, who among many activities is composer in residence at the Memorial Church at Harvard, was recently the subject of an extended feature in the Organ (UK). […]

The style is modern but accessible, even when crunchy dissonance is involved. The expressive range is wide…music marked by highly imaginative touches.

We have four Cooman works that dovetail well with one another, that express a sense of reverence and elation, of very real beauty. Cooman may be the most lyrical composer alive. He certainly moves to the center of such things on this program. It is in every way delightful. The music is impeccably conceived, orchestrated and performed here. Ravishing!

Cooman provides a clear statement of the melody early on, followed by piquant, imaginative reworkings that keep the tune recognizable while taking it far afield as well. Erik Simmons is an exemplary performer, and the recorded sound captures the Sonnenorgel very well indeed. This is just the sort of thing that is needed to break the monotony of hearing the same old Christmas tunes trotted out in the same old unimaginative manner. Make this a stocking stuffer for your music-loving friends; cheerily recommended.

[The organ] is a magnificent instrument sonically. Beautifully produced and recorded, with more than ample booklet notes by the composer him¬self, the celebration of the art of Carson Cooman continues.

Enjoyable

This is not a Christmas album. This is Christmas music played on a church organ, a different thing altogether. It can be played any time, as what’s popular elsewhere is new to English ears.