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44TH ONLINE ORGAN RECITAL IN MAASLAND

44TH ONLINE ORGAN RECITAL IN MAASLAND

Mar 11, 2021

MARCH 12, 2021:

The weekly online organ recital on Friday evening comes this time from the Oude Kerk in Maasland. There is an organ that Johan Frederik Witte (of the famous company Bätz/Witte) built in 1888 for the Nicolaikerk in Utrecht. After the restoration of the church in 1946, the organ was placed in the choir of the church and later, under the advice of the Reformed Organ Commission and the organist of the church, Lambert Erné, replaced by a new organ from the Danish firm Marcussen & Søn, completely in line with the taste and ideas of the time. The Witte organ was sold in 1953 to Willem van Leeuwen. He sold it to the Hervormde Kerk in Maasland, where it was placed in 1958 by the firm De Koff, rebuilt and with a new organ front. In 2000, the Reil firm restored the organ, restoring the original disposition. The instrument has 27 registers, divided over the main, upper and pedal.

The concert opens with two of Feike Asma's students. At the request of an enthusiastic young organist, a festive Fantasie-Toccatine about Psalm 150 by Rutger van Mazijk will first be performed. From the former organist of the Grote Kerk in Gorinchem, Jan Bonefaas, we hear a beautiful series of variations about the song "O God van hemel, zee en aard'".

As on many programs, the name Johann Sebastian Bach is not missing. This week has been chosen for his Fantasia et Fuga in C-Moll, BWV 537. The first movement, the fantasy, resembles a mournful lament with its high floating notes and motifs above dark basses. Until suddenly the fugue starts with a very energetic theme. The fugue is initially given a quiet registration, but ends in a strong organ sound.

Bach's pupil Johann Ludwig Krebs also wrote a fantasy, but of a completely different order, in Italian style. The 'Fantasia à gusto italiano' offers a playful rhythm and a jaunty solo through the shawm of the upper part.

One of the most famous compositions by Georg Friedrich Händel (or according to his anglicized name: George Frideric Handel) comes from 'Solomon' (HWV 67), a three-part oratorio about King Solomon. The third act (dealing with the Queen of Sheba's state visit) opens with a lively Sinfonia for two oboes and string orchestra. The famous conductor Sir Thomas Beecham is believed to have given the name 'The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba' to this sinfonia in 1933 or 1955. Minne Veldman plays his own organ arrangement in which the two oboes are imitated with the Dulciaan of the upper and the main work plenum fulfills the role of string orchestra.

With the German composer Sigfrid Karg-Elert we make a leap to the 19th and 20th century. The program includes one of his symphonic chorales from opus 87, about the famous church song "Ach bleib mit deiner Gnade". In this Symphonischer Choral the composer closely follows the text of the six verses: Ach bleib mit deiner / deinem: 1. Gnade (grace) 2. Worte (Word) 3. Glanze (shine) 4. Segen (blessing) 5. Schutze (protection) 6. Treue (faithfulness). The atmosphere of the text is depicted in the music. An impressive and emotional work.

The well-known French Romantic composer Alexandre Guilmant left us 18 parts with 'Pièces dans différents styles' (pieces in different styles). From the 5th movement (5ème livraison, opus 19) comes a lovely Allegretto in A-B-A form. In the opening movement Guilmant wrote a solo for the hautbois (played in Maasland with the Dulciaan). In the repetition of this part, the hautbois enters into a dialogue with the clarinette (played in Maasland with the Nasard). In the middle part the French strings excel: voix céleste (played in Maasland with the Viola and the Holpijp). A beautiful example of French romanticism, translated into a typical Dutch organ. The theme of this Allegretto is based on four notes from Lied ohne Worte (opus 67 no. 5) by Felix Mendelssohn. Above this piece Guilmant wrote: 'Hommage à Lefébure-Wély'.

And from this Louis James Alfred Lefébure-Wély is the next work on the program: one of his famous Sorties. It concerns the Sortie en mi bémol majeur (in E-flat major) from the 11th movement of his L'Organiste moderne. It is a very cheerful and exuberant spectacle.

Minne Veldman concludes this concert with his own Fantasie-Toccata on Psalm 27, which he wrote in 2011 for an organ concert in the Grote of Stephanuskerk in Hasselt. It has been published in part 11 of the sheet music series 'Koraalbewerkingen'.

Every Friday evening at 8 pm (UTC+1) you can watch and listen to an online organ recital by Minne Veldman.

- 03/12/2021 | MAASLAND, Oude Kerk
- 03/19/2021 | HOOGEVEEN, De Opgang
- 03/26/2021 | DELFT, Oude Kerk
- 04/03/2021 | TERNEUZEN, Grote Kerk
(Passion & Easter | once on Saturday due to Good Friday)
- 04/09/2021 | BOLSWARD, Martinikerk

You can support and maintain these concerts through a financial donation by Buy Me a Coffee. Thank you very much in advance and I hope you will enjoy my recital!

Minne Veldman

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