John Gardner: Music for Brass and Organ
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The British composer John Gardner (b. 1917) has been astonishingly prolific, writing 249 opus numbers in his sixty-year career as composer, conductor and teacher. This CD explores his rich output for brass and organ, from the elegant Theme and Variations, Op. 7, of 1951 to the lusty Five Dances for Organ, Op. 179, written in 1988.
Gardner's music – basically tonal and always impeccably crafted – is characterised by charm, grace and humour. His musical fingerprints come from his love of jazz, Renaissance and Baroque procedures and his mastery of imitative counterpoint. He generally uses established musical forms but invests them with a quirky and distinctive harmonic idiom.
Paul Archibald, trumpet
Cosmopolitan Brass
Stephen King, organ
Flourish for a Wedding, Op. 162 (1983)
Easter Fantasy, Op. 232 (1997)
Theme and Variations for Brass Quartet, Op. 7 (1951):
- Theme: Andante flessible
- Variation 1: Un poco meno mosso
- Variation 2: Allegretto
- Variation 3: Allegro giocoso
- Variation 4: Marcia lenta
- Variation 5: Marcia rapida
- Variation 6: Habảera
- Variation 7: Misterioso
- Variation 8: Finale – Allegro vivace
Five Dances for Organ, Op.179 (1988):
1. Lavolta
2. Pavan
3. Jig
4. Lament
5. Fling
Sonata da Chiesa sopra un tema di Claudio Monteverdi, Op. 136 (1976, rev. 1977):
- I. Maestoso
- II. Allegro
- III. Lento e piano
- IV. Allegro ma non troppo
Sonata Secolare, Op. 117 (1973):
I. Allegro con brio
II. Ciacona (largo)
III. Finale (vivace)
Paul Archibald, trumpet
Cosmopolitan Brass
Stephen King, organ
Flourish for a Wedding, Op. 162 (1983)
Easter Fantasy, Op. 232 (1997)
Theme and Variations for Brass Quartet, Op. 7 (1951):
- Theme: Andante flessible
- Variation 1: Un poco meno mosso
- Variation 2: Allegretto
- Variation 3: Allegro giocoso
- Variation 4: Marcia lenta
- Variation 5: Marcia rapida
- Variation 6: Habảera
- Variation 7: Misterioso
- Variation 8: Finale – Allegro vivace
Five Dances for Organ, Op.179 (1988):
1. Lavolta
2. Pavan
3. Jig
4. Lament
5. Fling
Sonata da Chiesa sopra un tema di Claudio Monteverdi, Op. 136 (1976, rev. 1977):
- I. Maestoso
- II. Allegro
- III. Lento e piano
- IV. Allegro ma non troppo
Sonata Secolare, Op. 117 (1973):
I. Allegro con brio
II. Ciacona (largo)
III. Finale (vivace)
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