Tender is the North

$18.99 (COMPACT DISC)

Link to this COMPACT DISC

2 Pieces, Op. 111 (more info)
Composed by: Jean Sibelius
Iain Quinn, organ


1.   No. 1. Intrada - 00:05:31
2.   No. 2. Funeral - 00:05:12


3 Tonstucke, Op. 22 (more info)
Composed by: Niels Wilhelm Gade
Joseph Adam, organ
Iain Quinn, organ
Hans Fagius, organ
Martin Schmeding, pedal piano


3.   No. 1 in F major - 00:05:58
4.   No. 2 in C major - 00:02:19
5.   No. 3 in A minor - 00:04:37


2 Preludes (more info)
Composed by: Selim Palmgren
Iain Quinn, organ


6.   No. 1. Tranquillo - 00:01:18
7.   No. 2. — - 00:01:09


Larghetto (more info)
Composed by: Askell Masson
Iain Quinn, organ


8.   Larghetto - 00:08:13


Variasjoner over Med Jesus vil eg fara, Op. 4 (more info)
Composed by: Knut Nystedt
Iain Quinn, organ


9.   Koral tempo - - 00:01:04
10.   Variation 1: Koral tempo - - 00:01:08
11.   Variation 2: Molto tranquillo - - 00:02:48
12.   Variation 3: Allegretto scherzando - - 00:01:11
13.   Variation 4: Con moto - - 00:00:46
14.   Variation 5: Lento - - 00:02:37
15.   Variation 6: Vivace - - 00:00:49
16.   Variation 7: Allegro energico - - 00:02:45


Organ Sonata in E major, Op. 38 (more info)
Composed by: Otto Olsson
Iain Quinn, organ


17.   I. Allegro moderato - 00:11:00
18.   II. Meditation: Andante lento - Fugue: Andante lento - 00:06:34
19.   III. Finale: Allegro con brio - 00:04:57

Reviews

Frozen organ (Apr 19, 2010)
Reviewer:Craig Zeichner
Organist Iain Quinn is building a fine discography on Chandos that focuses on repertoire outside the ever-dominant French school. Tender is the North is a well-chosen and brilliantly performed collection of works from the Scandinavian countries. Quinn opens the program with music by two familiar composers: Jean Sibelius (Finland) and Niels Gade (Denmark). The Sibelius works are stately and... Organist Iain Quinn is building a fine discography on Chandos that focuses on repertoire outside the ever-dominant French school. Tender is the North is a well-chosen and brilliantly performed collection of works from the Scandinavian countries. Quinn opens the program with music by two familiar composers: Jean Sibelius (Finland) and Niels Gade (Denmark). The Sibelius works are stately and conservative. The three brief Gade pieces are quite lovely and are firmly set in the German Romantic style (think Mendelssohn’s organ music). The balance of the program features some lesser-known composers: Selim Palmgren (Finland), Áskell Másson (Iceland), Knut Nystedt (Norway) and Otto Olsson (Sweden).

I’ve never heard of Másson, but his Larghetto is a keeper. This is a somber-toned work whose emotional chromatic central section is very moving. Nystedt’s Variasjoner over ‘Med Jesus vil eg fara’ is a set of seven variations on a Norwegian folk tune. Nystedt’s variations are thrilling and showcases the Harrison and Harrison organ of Coventry Cathedral—this is a terrific work that more organists should play. The Olsson Sonata, Op. 38 has big-hearted charm and requires no small measure of virtuosity from the soloist – the pedal work is killer – and Quinn is up to every challenge. This is another outstanding recording from a marvelous organist. I can’t wait to hear what Quinn has in store for us next.
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