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Exordium: Organ Music by Carson Cooman

Label: Divine Art
Catalogue No: DDA 25154
EAN/UPC: 809730515422
Artist(s):
Erik Simmons

Composer(s):
Carson Cooman

Release Date: July 21, 2017
Genres:
Instrumental Organ

Periods:
Contemporary

Discs: 1
Total Playing Time: 77:03

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Exordium: Organ Music by Carson Cooman

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.

His organ compositions come in many styles, from those inspired by the Renaissance, to liturgical models, to more gritty and substantial pieces such as his organ symphonies and preludes and fugues. The music here, tonal and accessible though never lacking in complex chromaticism, was all written either as a commission, or dedicated to a person who has known, worked with, or inspired the composer. Some works are overtly liturgical and all are endowed with a deep spirituality.

Erik Simmons is a fine organist, making his fifth Cooman organ album for Divine Art. He is playing the organ of the Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Saint-Omer, France (built 1855) in a live performance recorded through the Hauptwerk system.

    Carson Cooman
  1. Exordium
  2. Romanza
  3. Little Partita on a Polish Carol
  4. Cortège
  5. Sketch No. 1
  6. Refrains
    7. A Czech Liturgical Year
  7. I. Advent: Gaudeamus Partitur
  8. II. Christmas: Narodil se Kristus Pán
  9. III. Lent: Matka pláče
  10. IV. Easter: Aleluja! Živ bud’ nad smrtí
  11. V. Ordinary Time: Tisáckrát pozdravujeme tebe

    12.  
    Gregorian Diptych
  12. I. Invocation: Adore te devote
  13. II. Fantasy: Da pacem Domine

    14.  
  14. Canto quieto
  15. Pastorale (E.M.M.)
  16. Rondino for St. Joseph
    17. Deux petits préludes
  17. I. Prélude phrygien
  18. II. Prélude jovial
    19. O Come: Three Hymn Fantasies
  19. I. Nettleton (Come, thou fount)
  20. II. Veni Emmanuel
  21. III. Veni Creator Spiritus

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  1. 01
    Exordium

  2. 02
    Romanza

  3. 03
    Little Partita on a Polish Carol

  4. 04
    Cortège

  5. 05
    Sketch No. 1

  6. 06
    Refrains

  7. 07
    I. Advent: Gaudeamus Partitur

  8. 08
    II. Christmas: Narodil se Kristus Pán

  9. 09
    III. Lent: Matka pláče

  10. 10
    IV. Easter: Aleluja! Živ bud’ nad smrtí

  11. 11
    V. Ordinary Time: Tisáckrát pozdravujeme tebe

  12. 12
    I. Invocation: Adore te devote

  13. 13
    II. Fantasy: Da pacem Domine

  14. 14
    Canto quieto

  15. 15
    Pastorale (E.M.M.)

  16. 16
    Rondino for St. Joseph

  17. 17
    I. Prélude phrygien

  18. 18
    II. Prélude jovial

  19. 19
    I. Nettleton (Come, thou fount)

  20. 20
    II. Veni Emmanuel

  21. 21
    III. Veni Creator Spiritus

  • Fanfare

    “

    If anything I like the repertoire here even better than on [Cooman’s] previous disc. He uniformly puts his best foot forward, with felicitous results; unreservedly recommended.

    ” —James A. Altena

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  • American Record Guide

    “

    As in the previous volumes the music, playing, and production are of a high standard. These pieces are mostly short, tonal, and in a pleasantly neoclassical harmonic idiom. Simmons delivers his usual excellent performances.

    ” —Robert Delcamp

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  • The Whole Note

    “

    Cooman’s works are skillfully written with a contemporary harmonic sensibility that always yields to the melody. Simmons understands this and faith¬fully brings this great Baroque instrument into the service of a 21st-century composer.

    ” —Alex Baran

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  • MusicWeb International

    “

    Much of the music is in [a] quiet vein, but Cooman does allow the organist to let rip, as in the opening Exordium and the Gregorian Diptych. I … cannot deny the qualities which [John France] finds in the music: ‘beautiful, inspiring and seductive in equal measure … charged with wonder, mystery and a deep sense of engagement with the world of nature and society’. I would even add ‘ethereal’. The recording… sounds very good. I enjoyed hearing it.

    ” —Brian Wilson

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  • Classical Music Sentinel

    “

    Exordium, the opening piece on this CD, certainly makes for a great beginning … which pushes the organ’s and organist’s limits to their full potential. Besides the closing Veni Creator Spiritus also being a full on all-stops blazing type of piece, most of the other pieces sandwiched in between are soft, lyrical and evocative works, all great at displaying a pipe organ’s individuality and range of stops. Each and every piece on this disc has a distinct style and unique sound, unlike many other composer’s collections that bring on ear fatigue after a while.. an enriching listening experience.

    ” —Jean-Yves Duperron

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