In the new digital album, Konstantin Volostnov showcases the uniqueness and richness of the sound of a real English organ.
The English organ, both in Russia and in continental Europe, remains a terra incognita. A distinct style of the instrument was formed during the Victorian era and is a unique example of organ artistry.
Recorded in 2013, the sound of the instrument transports us to the British coastline of the English Channel, to the town of Hythe in Kent, where the last organ built during the lifetime of Arthur Harrison, one of the two sons of the founder Thomas Harrison, was established in St. Lawrence Church in 1936.
The instruments of the firm "Harrison and Harrison" can be found at the Royal Albert Hall and Westminster Abbey in London. All of them possess a special tonal coloration that is unparalleled in other well-known organ-building schools (French, German, or Italian). The soft orchestral timbres, bright and light sound of the high registers, depth and richness of the basses, the power of the organ's tutti, and the unique English Tuba stop – all of this accompanies the singing in the church and allows beloved British transcriptions of orchestral music to be performed on the organ.
The album includes popular pieces by composers of the Romantic era – Böhlmann, Lefebure-Wely, Franck, Reger, and Mendelssohn. This is not a coincidence, as it was during this period that organ building in the United Kingdom flourished. However, here, familiar and cherished melodies take on a surprising and distinctive English accent.
This release is dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the Melodiya.
