Antiphonies (Carson Cooman Organ Music vol. 14)
Carson Cooman is many things musical – organist and Composer in Residence at the Memorial Church, Harvard University; writer, critic and consultant, concert organist, and above all a highly prolific composer of music in a wide variety of genres, from orchestral to song. Recent counts show over 3000 tracks of his music available online with over 300 compositions written for him by more than 100 composers.
His organ compositions come in many styles, from liturgical models, to substantial secular pieces such as his organ symphonies, preludes and fugues. On this album a range of works, most composed between 2013 and 2020, wonderfully realized on a fabulous instrument.
Erik Simmons is a superb organist, making his 14th Cooman organ album for Divine Art. We hear the gorgeous voices of the organ of Propsteikirche St. Ludgerus in Billerbeck, Germany, recorded through the Hauptwerk system.
Track Listing
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Carson Cooman (b.1982):
- Fantasia Canonica (6:00)
- Prelude on "Kingsfold" (5:01)
- Postlude on "Hyfrydol" (3:03) Three Autumn Sketches after a Watercolor by Maria Willscher
- I. Herbststimmung (Autumn Mood) (7:02)
- II. Herbstfarben (Autumn Colors) (3:38)
- III. Sonnenuntergang (Sunset) (5:33)
- A St. Patrick Silhouette (9:46)
- St. Michael Antiphonies (5:13)
- Desert Marigold (6:53)
- Preludio del ricordo (4:49) Suite circulaire
- I. Praeludium (6:08)
- II. Ricercare (4:51)
- III. Toccata (4:16)
Reviews
“Anyone who has been collecting this series of discs will definitely want this one as well; it is worth the price for the Sonnenuntergang alone. Recommended.
” —James A. Altena
“Devotees of the organ will relish the rich tones of Cooman’s St. Michael Antiphonies, the St. Patrick Silhouette, and his Autumn Sketches. Here is a modern voice, rooted in the past but with hope in the future.
” —Stuart Millson
“Cooman’s music… occupies a special, perhaps, unique, place in contemporary music. One cannot but admire the consistency of invention, the seemingly endless [stream] of genuine musical reactions to a wide variety of inspiration that Cooman’s music consistently delivers. , Cooman could hardly have encountered a finer or more sympathetic interpreter of his work than Erik Simmons, who has mastered the composer’s individual style admirably. Beautifully and most convincingly recorded.
” —Robert Matthew-Walker
“Preludio del Ricordo is the perfect organ piece, with both variety and grandeur. It’s all pleasant music, I could listen to it for hours. Carson Cooman is outrageously prolific but maybe the inspiration just keeps coming, and a number of gems may be found among the many pieces. I hear a few here.
” —Donald Vroon
“Cooman has a fine sense of the organ’s capabilities and a clear comprehension of the many styles that can be used for organ works. Cooman’s poise and classically inflected style show here… Simmons fully explores the tonal and emotional colors of these pieces. Testimony both to Cooman’s skill in creating the material and Simmons’ in performing it.
” —Mark J. Estren
“Carson Cooman is so prolific and creative… his compositions are all distinctively different and varied in style, expression and technique. All of Cooman’s music is tonal and accessible, but with plenty of unique and at times adventurous harmonic twists and turns, that raise the bar and instantly tweak your ears.
” —Jean-Yves Duperron
