Württembergische Blätter für Kirchenmusik

This CD album contains ten contemporary organ works by nine composers from six countries. Carson Cooman chose as the instrument the freshly renovated post-romantic Link/Gaida organ of the Pauluskirche in Ulm with its fantastic tonal possibilities. This sonic fascination is a constant presence while listening and is so large and wide that one can almost imagine a symphony orchestra.

The music selection does the rest in creating an extraordinary listening experience—from smaller character pieces and meditations to several dramatic, large-scale works that show the entire range of contemporary organ music. The last piece is the great 15th organ symphony of the English composer Bernard Heyes. Organist Carson Cooman, a well-known composer himself in the USA, recently presented an organ seminar for the Association [Verband evangelische Kirchenmusik in Württemberg] in the Pauluskirche. In this recording, his technical as well as tonal choices are sublime beyond any doubt. These recordings are certainly reference recordings of the respective pieces—but above all a real treat!

—SL