Maria Makarova - Dmitri Shostakovich: Music for Organ (1996) [2003]

Shostakovich wrote only one work for organ, the Passacaglia Op. 29b composed as an entr'acte between the two scenes of Act II of Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk Op. 29. We hear it in performances and recordings scored for full orchestra because he realized that not many opera houses would have full-scale pipe organs. One wishes a recording would be made some day of Lady Macbeth with the organ rather than the full orchestra being used in its original context as it is absolutely shattering. Turn the volume up – and brace yourself for the explosion of sound!

Maria Makarova is perfectly at ease and in fine form on this recording. The arrangements of his early Tahiti Trot (transcription of the foxtrot Tea for Two from No, No, Nanette by Vincent Youmans) and of excerpts from film music and opera and ballet music for the instrument constitute the bulk of the disc. One wishes this titan of Soviet music had written more for it. Splendid sound and definitely something you want to have in your collection!


Tracks:

01. The Future Promenade From The Cantata "The Song Of The Forests"
02. Waltz Of The Flowers In F Major From The Operetta "Moscow Cheryomushki", Op. 105
03. Tahiti Trot, Op. 16
04. From The Ballet "The Bolt", Op. 27: I. Waltz-Scherzo In E Flat Major
05. From The Ballet "The Bolt", Op. 27: II. Intermezzo In C Major
06. From The Music To The Film "The Gadfly", Op. 97: I. Overture In A Flat Minor
07. From The Music To The Film "The Gadfly", Op. 97: II. Barrel Organ Waltz In B Flat Major
08. From The Music To The Film "The Gadfly", Op. 97: III. Conterdanse In A Minor
09. IV. Romance In D Flat Major
10. From The Music To The Film "The Gadfly", Op. 97: V. People's Holiday In A Major
11. From "Suite No. 1 For Jazz Band: I. Polka In C Major
12. From "Suite No. 1 For Jazz Band: II. Waltz In G Minor
13. From The Ballet "The Limpid Stream", Op. 39: I. Russian Lubock In B Flat Major
14. From The Ballet "The Limpid Stream", Op. 39: II. Waltz In F Major
15. From The Ballet "The Limpid Stream", Op. 39: III. Polka In C Major
16. From The Ballet "The Limpid Stream", Op. 39: IV. Adagio In D Major
17. From The Ballet "The Limpid Stream", Op. 39: V. Polka Pizzicato In A Minor
18. From The Ballet "The Limpid Stream", Op. 39: VI. Romance In F Major
19. From The Ballet "The Limpid Stream", Op. 39: VII. Galop In A Major
20. Passacaglia In D Minor From The Opera "Lady Machbeth Of The Mtsensk District", Op. 29


Maria Makarova - organ