Great Hall Grandeur
Amy Johansen plays the Rudolf Von Beckerath organ in the Great Hall, University of Sydney. Great Hall Grandeur showcases one of Australia's most beautiful, versatile and exciting pipe organs (one of Rudolf von Beckerath's last masterpieces) played by one of Australia's finest concert organists.
Outstanding performances of colourful, contrasting and arresting music from the 16th to the 20th centuries, including two previously unrecorded works by living Australian composers. "Bloody Brilliant..." (Godelieve Ghavalas) began the first review of this new compact disc. What more needs to be said?
Artist
Amy Johansen
Amy Johansen is the Sydney University Organist and an Honorary Carillonist at the University. Although her repertoire encompasses all periods of music, it was her first CD, The Embrace of Fire, devoted to the organ music of Naji Hakim, which initially brought her international acclaim.
Press quotes
“I thought Amy Johansen's choices to be quite breathtaking in their coverage of a wide range of musical periods (old to recent) and this was vindicated subsequently in single-sitting listening - splendid playing and good music, highly recommendable.”
— John Worcester, Libretto
“Impeccable and well energised playing, interesting repertoire and one of Australia's most distinctive instruments - a sure recipe for success”
— Peter Jewkes, Organ Australia
Audio previews
Track Listing
- Toccata John Weaver 4:15
- (Allegro): Grave 1:27
- Fuga 3:20
- Largo e spiccato 2:32
- (Allegro) 3:24
- Master Tallis's Testament Herbert Howells 6:36
- Con moto maestoso 8:25
- Andante tranquillo 2:34
- Elijah on the Mountain Robert Ampt 8:17
- Bells Jean Langlais 2:42
- Mein junges Leben hat ein End Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck 7:52
- Trumpet Tune In E Flat David N. Johnson 2:55
- Moto Ostinato Petr Eben 5:09
- Symphonie No. 4 Romance Louis Vierne 8:25
- Toccata Colin Brumby 5:28
Concerto In D Minor after Vivaldi BWV596 Johann Sebastian Bach
Sonata No. 3 Felix Mendelssohn
Performers
- Amy Johansen · organ
Composers
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.
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.
Robert Ampt
Robert Ampt is the Sydney City Organist and Organist/Choirmaster of Sydney's German Lutheran Church. An active recitalist and teacher, he composes and arranges music for the organ, has written two children's introductions to the organ, and has written an extensive history of the Sydney Town Hall organ.
Colin Brumby
Colin Brumby was born in Melbourne studying in Spain and London. He helped lay the foundation of permanent opera in Queensland and has considerable diversity in his output, representing almost every form in the musical catalogue.
Where to buy
Great Hall Grandeur is available for download from the iTunes Music Store.
It's available for streaming through
Apple Music.
Great Hall Grandeur 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.
