This organ transcription recording used nearly 1000 different stop combinations to create rich, orchestral sounds on the Goll organ in Lucerne.
Historical Context
In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, it was common practice in France for organists to improvise storm scenes during concerts, often to great public acclaim.
Instruments
The French organ builder Aristide Cavaillé-Coll invented the 'effet d'orage' (rumbling thunder) pedal effect, which allowed multiple deep bass pipes to sound simultaneously.
Composer Biography
Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique is autobiographical, inspired by his intense, unrequited passion for the English actress Harriet Smithson.
Performer Biography
Hansjörg Albrecht, the conductor, organist, and harpsichordist on this album, is the artistic director of the Munich Bach Choir & Bach Orchestra, founded by Karl Richter.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Berlioz considered the organ an "emperor" instrument, "created to rule unrestrictedly," a statement this album aims to confirm with his own music.
Compositional Technique
Berlioz ingeniously adapted the leitmotif concept from pre-romantic French and German opera into instrumental music, calling it 'idée fixe'.
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