William Whitehead - Mendelssohn: Complete Organ Sonatas (2009) [Hi-Res]

Tracklist

01. Organ Sonata in F Minor, Op. 65, No. 1, MWV W56: I. Allegro moderato e serioso
02. Organ Sonata in F Minor, Op. 65, No. 1, MWV W56: II. Adagio
03. Organ Sonata in F Minor, Op. 65, No. 1, MWV W56: III. Andante recitando-
04. Organ Sonata in F Minor, Op. 65, No. 1, MWV W56: IV. Allegro assai vivace
05. Organ Sonata in C Minor, Op. 65 No. 2, MWV W57: I. Grave-
06. Organ Sonata in C Minor, Op. 65 No. 2, MWV W57: II. Adagio
07. Organ Sonata in C Minor, Op. 65 No. 2, MWV W57: III. Allegro maestoso e vivace-
08. Organ Sonata in C Minor, Op. 65 No. 2, MWV W57: IV. Fuga. Allegro moderato
09. Organ Sonata in A Major, Op. 65, MWV W58: I. Con moto maestoso
10. Organ Sonata in A Major, Op. 65, MWV W58: II. Andante tranquillo
11. Organ Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 65, No. 4, MWV W59: I. Allegro con brio
12. Organ Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 65, No. 4, MWV W59: II. Andante religioso
13. Organ Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 65, No. 4, MWV W59: III. Allegretto
14. Organ Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 65, No. 4, MWV W59: IV. Allegro maestoso e vivace
15. Organ Sonata in D Major, Op. 65, No. 5, MWV W60: I. Andante-
16. Organ Sonata in D Major, Op. 65, No. 5, MWV W60: II. Andante con moto-Tempo di valse
17. Organ Sonata in D Major, Op. 65, No. 5, MWV W60: III. Allegro maestoso
18. Organ Sonata in D Minor, Op. 65, No. 6, MWV W61: I. Chorale. Andante sostenuto-Allegro molto-
19. Organ Sonata in D Minor, Op. 65, No. 6, MWV W61: II. Fuga. Sostenuto e legato
20. Organ Sonata in D Minor, Op. 65, No. 6, MWV W61: III. Finale. Andante



Felix Mendelssohn, whose centenary we celebrate this year, was the ultimate cosmopolitan composer, but formed a special relationship with Britain, which he visited ten times.

A number of his works were written in response to English commissions, including Elijah, and the Six Sonatas for Organ which have become established repertoire for organists and are some of Mendelssohn’s last compositions.

Mendelssohn was the first composer of international renown after J.S. Bach to return to the organ, and performed publicly on English organs during all his visits, audiences coming in droves to hear him. The sound of the English organ of his day had some distinctive qualities, which have been captured on this recording by William Whitehead, who uses the 1818 Lincoln Organ now situated in the Ballroom at Buckingham Palace.

It is not known whether Mendelssohn played this particular instrument but we know that he was a warmly welcomed guest of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert at the Palace on numerous occasions. Recently restored, the organ gives an English perspective on this ebullient music which crosses international boundaries of style.

It is the first time an authentic instrument of this period has been used to record Mendelssohn’s Six Organ Sonatas.

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