Hyperion Records | Organ Fireworks, Vol. 08

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CDA66978

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Recording details: January 1997
Hong Kong Cultural Centre, China
Produced by Paul Spicer
Engineered by Paul Niederberger
Release date: October 1997
Total duration: 74 minutes 41 seconds

'Playing of great flair and character in arguably the finest yet of this distinguished series' (Classic CD)

'Familiarity still does not diminish the wonder of such outstanding playing. The organ makes a glorious noise … An outstanding example of imaginative and successful programme planning' (Gramophone)

'Again, Herrick’s playing is exemplary, and the organ is superb' (Choir & Organ)

Organ Fireworks, Vol. 08

Christopher Herrick (organ)

1		When Johnny comes marching home [2'04] Patrick Gilmour (?-?), arr. Edwin Lemare (1865-1934)
2		Imperial March, Op 32 [5'07] Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934), arr. George C Martin (1844-1916)
		Concert Variations, Op 3 John Knowles Paine (1839-1906)
3		No 1: Austrian Hymn [9'52]
4		Prelude and Fugue on BACH, S260 [11'31] Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
		Sunday Music Petr Eben (1929-2007)
5		Movement 3: Moto Ostinato [5'09]
6		variations and fugue on 'Heil dir im Siegerkranz' [7'05] Anonymous - traditional, arr. Max Reger (1873-1916)
7		Fantasia in F minor and major, K594 [9'21] Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
		La Damnation de Faust Hector Berlioz (1803-1869), arr. William Thomas Best (1826-1897)
8		Movement: Hungarian March [4'29]
9		Prélude et Fugue sur le nom d'Alain, Op 7 [11'29] Maurice Duruflé (1902-1986)
10		Etude Symphonique, Op 78 [5'04] Marco Enrico Bossi (1861-1925)
11		Sortie in B flat [3'30] Louis-James-Alfred Lefebure-Wely (1817-1870)

The end of June saw much ink spilled over whether the British or the Chinese organized the more spectacular fireworks to mark the handover of Hong Kong; Christopher Herrick's display on the Rieger organ of the HK Cultural Centre makes a third strong contender. The organ has ninety-three speaking stops, and its 8,000 pipes are here unleashed on such gems as Elgar's Imperial March and the Hungarian March 'Rákóczi' from Berlioz's Damnation of Faust, here in a stunning arrangement by W T Best. The imperial theme is continued with such works as Paine's Concert Variations on the Austrian Hymn, and Reger's Variations and Fugue on 'Heil dir im Siegerkranz' (the tune being more recognizable, to English listeners at least, as 'God save the King').