Topic: Risoluto from ”Five short pieces” for the Organ 1908, Horatio Parker
Risoluto from ”Five short pieces” for the Organ 1908, Horatio Parker
Facts about the composer Parker can be found after the video for those interested, a more recent composer, but forgotten ? died 1919.
During his lifetime he was considered to be the finest composer in the United States, a superior craftsman writing in the most advanced style.
No one has ever played this piece with such a registration as my, but no one has had an instrument with such an almost infinite number of registration possibilities either
I am always coming back to this comment about Organteq 2: ”Everything in Organteq can be tweaked - from the composition of the organ to the sound of each pipe - making it possible to reproduce a wide variety of existing organs or to explore unknowns musical lands” Love it! Always trying to find new ways with registrations, why use the same one all the time when there are 1000 possibilities with new experiences...
Horatio William Parker (September 15, 1863 – December 18, 1919) was an American composer, organist and teacher. He was a central figure in musical life in New Haven, Connecticut in the late 19th century, and is best remembered as the undergraduate teacher of Charles Ives while the composer attended Yale University.
He was born in Auburndale, Massachusetts. His earliest lessons were with his mother. He then studied in Boston with George Whitefield Chadwick, Stephen A. Emery and John Orth. He finished his formal education in Europe, where he studied in Munich with Josef Rheinberger; also in Munich he composed his first significant works, including a symphony and a dramatic cantata. From 1888 to 1893, he was organist of Trinity Church, New York City, and from 1893 to 1901 organist of Trinity Church, Boston. In 1893, Parker became Battell Professor of the theory of music at Yale University. He was appointed Dean of Music at that school in 1904, a position which he held for the rest of his life.
During his lifetime he was considered to be the finest composer in the United States, a superior craftsman writing in the most advanced style.
"Five Short Pieces" were published by G. Schirmer in 1908. "Risoluto" is the fifth and last piece in the set.
It is dramatic and breathless. In a dark D minor, the piece grabs you, surging ahead with no time to catch your breath. The grandioso conclusion passes to the major, and the great storm ends without the loss of momentum. A fitting finale!
Horatio Parker is a composer that should NOT be overlooked!
(text with permission ftom my friend Dave)
All the best, everyone,
Stig
