New Classics

Carson Cooman is organist and Composer in Residence at the Memorial Church, Harvard University, as well as a prolific American composer, concert performer, critic and writer. Born in 1982 his catalogue of works includes many forms, ranging from solo instrumental pieces to operas, and from orchestral works to hymn tunes. His music has been performed on all six inhabited continents and has appeared on over 25 recordings. As a concert organist, he specialises exclusively in the performance of new music and over 130 new works have been written for him by composers from around the world. He is also a writer on music, producing articles and reviews, and serves as an active consultant on music business matters to composers and performing organizations.

Cooman’s organ compositions come in many styles, from liturgical models, to more gritty and substantial pieces such as his organ symphonies and preludes and fugues. Divine Art has long been a champion of Cooman’s music, including The Cloak With The Stars. This new recording by top German organist Philip Hartmann includes pieces previously recorded by Erik Simmons for Divine Art as well as several premieres. Highlights include the majestic Musica da processione, the impressive Suite in F Major, a sparkling Invocazione brillante, and two evocative Nantucket Sketches (Idyll and Danza rustica). Hartmann has been organist at Ulm Cathedral, Germany since 1999 and in 2005 was appointed as district Cantor for Ulm deanery. He has played more than 600 recitals throughout Europe, specialising in American and British organ music, and has had 40 new works dedicated to him. Here he plays the magnificent 2013 Link-Gaida organ at Pauluskirche, Ulm.

—John Pitt