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The Rieger at Scots'

So just what does one play to demonstrate the resources of a large, beautifully voiced new organ? Douglas Lawrence has tried here to show something of the immensely wide tonal palette available on the Rieger organ at The Scots' Church in Melbourne, completed in 1999.

On one disc it is not possible to give more than an aural glimpse of the endless possibilities in an organ as fine as this one. Nonetheless, there are magical sounds here and the listener will hear examples of many classical registrations from the great periods of composition.

This album is the premiere recording of the Rieger Organ at The Scot's Church, Melbourne. The organ, new at the time of this recording, contains four-manuals and 68 speaking stops. It was designed in association with Douglas Lawrence and the church's organ committee.

Artist

Douglas Lawrence

Melbourne organist Douglas Lawrence is Director of Music at The Scots' Church and Teacher of the Organ at the University of Melbourne and was the founding director of Choir of Ormond College, a position he held from 1982 to 2006.


Press quotes

“glorious”

— New Classics, UK

“one of the few organs in Melbourne that suits its home building in acoustic and timbral richness ... a program of music that was calculated to unveil even more qualities of colour and sonorous brilliance in this richly resourced organ ... fluent and engaging playing”

— Clive O'Connell, The Age

“Many of the works will be familiar, but they have an added dimension performed on such attractive tonal resources ... The sleeve notes are most comprehensive, as we have come to expect from MOVE ... a worthy aural tribute to one of our finest new instruments ... an excellent achievement!”

— John Maidment, OHTA Journal

“The playing is assured ... This is a splendid disc ... a rewarding listening experience”

— Bill Hoffmann, Canberra Times

“Another winning local disc”

— Tony Way, The Age - Green Guide

“the program is captivating ... the playing is vintage Lawrence and the recorded sound sumptuous.”

— Bruce Steele, Organo Pleno

“a 'real gem' ... all enjoyable ... a fine CD of a fine organ ... worthy to be in all organ music lovers' collections.”

— David Vann, The Organ Voice

“Lawrence's playing is excellent throughout ... the balance and ambience are excellent ... altogether a highly successful first aural outing for the Rieger, and a credit in every way to all concerned.”

— Peter Jewkes, The Sydney Organ Journal

Audio preview

Track Listing

  1. Prelude, Fugue and Chaconne in C, BuxWV 137 Dietrich Buxtehude 5:11

    2. Three Choral Preludes Dietrich Buxtehude

  2. I. Nun komm der Heiden Heiland, BuxWV 211 1:48
  3. II. Jesus Christus unser Heiland, BuxWV 198 2:01
  4. III. In Puer natus in Bethlehem, BuxWV 217 1:07
  5. Ciacona in E minor Dietrich Buxtehude 5:31

    6. Chorale Partita Johann Pachelbel

  6. I :42
  7. II :50
  8. III :47
  9. IV :49
  10. V :51
  11. VI :54
  12. VII :52
  13. VIII :51
  14. IX :33
  15. X :53

    16. Trio Sonata No. 1 in E Flat major, BWV 525 Johann Sebastian Bach

  16. I 2:50
  17. II 5:43
  18. III 3:16
  19. O Mensch bewein dein Suende gross, BWV 622 Johann Sebastian Bach 4:40

    20. Messe pour les Convents François Couperin

  20. Plein Jeu :59
  21. Fugue Sur La Trompette 1:34
  22. Recit De Chromhorne 1:54
  23. Plein Jeu 1:27
  24. Duo Sur Les Tierces 1:32
  25. Basse De Trompette 2:07
  26. Dialogue Sur La Voix Humain 1:55
  27. Dialogue Sur Les Grands Jeux 1:33
  28. Tierce En Taille 2:31
  29. Plein Jeu :46
  30. Dialogu Sur Les Grans Jeux 1:30

    31. Sonata No. 6 Felix Mendelssohn

  31. I 8:17
  32. II 3:10
  33. III 2:51
  34. Carillon Sortie Henri Mulet 4:45

Performers

Composers

François Couperin

Couperin belonged to a family of several composers from the mid-17th to mid-19th centuries. He was organist in the chapel of Louis XIV at Versailles, and was the greatest French master of the harpsichord.

Dietrich Buxtehude

Dieterich Buxtehude was a German-Danish organist and composer of the Baroque period. His organ works represent a central part of the standard organ repertoire and are frequently performed at recitals and in church services.

Johann Pachelbel

Johann Pachelbel was a German Baroque composer, organist and teacher, who brought the south German organ tradition to its peak. He composed a large body of sacred and secular music, and his contributions to the development of the chorale prelude and fugue have earned him a place among the most important composers of the middle Baroque era.

Felix Mendelssohn

Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809–1847) was a German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of the early Romantic period. Mendelssohn's work includes symphonies, concerti, oratorios, piano music and chamber music.

Johann Sebastian Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity.


Where to buy

The Rieger at Scots' is available for download from the iTunes Music Store.
It's available for streaming through Apple Music.

The Rieger at Scots' is available as as CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer secure online ordering.

Move CDs can be ordered through music retailers across Australia including Readings.

Product details

List price
$25.00 AUD
Total playing time
77 minutes 0 seconds
Engineer
Martin Wright
Editing
Vaughan McAlley
Venue
The Scots' Church Melbourne
Release date
2001
Copyright
© 2001 Move Records
Phonogram
℗ 2001 Move Records
Categories
Baroque, Classical, Organ
Catalogue number
MD 3244
Alternate catalogue number
MD3244
Barcode
EAN 9314574324426