American Record Guide

This is volume 13 in the series of American composer Carson Cooman’s organ music. One wonders how many volumes there will eventually be, as he has written well over 300 compositions for the organ! As in the previous volumes the music, playing, and production is of a high standard. It is pleasant, well- crafted, in a tonal, neo-classical harmonic language, and eminently useful for recital, church, and teaching. I particularly liked the Rhapsody, Two Contrasts, Acclamatio, and Radegund Variations, inspired by the life of Radegund (520?-587) who was a Frankish queen, friend of the poet Fortunatus, and founder of the abbey at Poitiers.

Simmons continues to deliver fine performances, this time on the 4-manual, 86-stop 1997/2006 Mathis organ in the Church of St Peter and Paul in Gorlitz, Germany. Notes on the music by the composer, photos, and specification.

—Robert Delcamp