Beguiled by Becker and Beyond #2545
. . . how an offhand suggestion to explore the music of Alsatian-American composer René Becker led recitalist and teacher Damin Spritzer on a grand adventure.
Hour 1
RENÉ BECKER: Praeludium festivum & Prayer, fr Sonata No. 1 in G, Op. 40 (1880 Cavaillé-Coll/Holy Cross Cathedral, Orleans, France) Raven 949
BECKER: Finale, fr Sonata No. 2 in F, Op. 41. BECKER: Supplication, Op. 81a. BECKER: Marche Triomphale-Ite missa est (1789 Isnard-1890 Cavaillé-Coll/Church of Saints Salomon & Gregoire, Pithiviers, France) Raven 925
BECKER: Marche Pontificale. BECKER: In Chapel, Op. 81d (Raven 999, #11) BECKER: Postlude in F#, Op. 69d (1938 Kimball/St. John’s Cathedral, Denver, CO) Raven 999
Filler – BECKER: Finale, fr Sonata No. 2 (see above)
Hour 2
HAROLD DARKE: Elegy in E-flat (1949). DARKE: Rhapsody in E, Op. 4 (1908) (1892 Willis/Hereford Cathedral, England) Raven 156
HARVEY GRACE: Caprice, fr Monologues. GRACE: Toccatina, fr Ten Compositions for Organ (1895 Lewis/Albion Church, Ahston-Under-Lyne, England) Raven 177
PIERRE KUNC: Benissez Dieu, mes freres les oiseaux, fr Les Prieres. KUNC: Fantasie (i.), fr Symphony in d (1923) (1849 John Abbey/St. Etienne Cathedral, Chalons-en-Champagne, France) Raven 184
Filler - BECKER: Finale, fr Sonata No. 2 (see above)
Dr. Spritzer’s recordings all appear in the Raven CD catalog, including her newest release, Joie, devoted to women students of Marcel Dupré.
PIPEDREAMS is supported in loving memory of Lucinda and Wesley Dudley by their family, with additional support from Walter McCarthy, Clara Ueland, and the Greystone Foundation, from Ed and Wanda Eichler, and from Kegg Pipe Organ Builders of Hartville, OH and Letourneau Organs Limited of Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, members of APOBA, the Associated Pipe Organ Builders of America, a collaborative of designers, creators, and maintainers of pipe organs found in religious and educational institutions, concert halls, and residences throughout the United States and beyond. An APOBA resource guide and member prospectus is available at APOBA.COM.
