Alain: Variations sur un thème de Clément Jannequin

Following on from his acclaimed world premiere recording of Judith Bingham's The Everlasting Crown, Stephen Farr releases a rare recording of the Metzler organ of Trinity College, Cambridge. The 1975 Metzler organ of Trinity College, Cambridge contains pipework retained from earlier organs installed by Father Smith in 1694 and 1708 and it is this combination of the new and old that colours the musical programme with the message that old and modern idioms can be close, not distant, relations.

The album features several world premiere recordings including Huw Watkins’ Pièce d’Orgue, Lionel Rogg’s Ricercare Cromatico, Jon Laukvik’s Monody with Variations and Bernard Foccroulle’s Spiegel. The recording also contains the first recording of a specially commissioned work by the acclaimed British composer, Judith Bingham, entitled Jacquet’s Ghost, which explores the unique tonal qualities of Trinity’s organ.

There were many influences on Alain’s compositions. He was a pupil of Dupré and played the works of Chopin and Debussy. On this CD his works are performed by the young organist Yoann Tardival on the organ of l’église Saint-Jacques de Dieppe. Tardival teaches organ at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels.

February 3rd 2011 is the 100th anniversary of the birth of French composer Jehan Alain. This 2-CD set features his complete works for organ performed by Lars Notto Birkeland on the new Goll organ at Fagerborg church in Oslo. Jehan Alain's father was also an organist, and a pupil of Guilmant and Vierne. Jehan himself studied with among others Dukas and Dupré at the conservatoire in Paris. He left behind more than 140 compositions as well as a multitude of drawings and texts. Tragically, he joined the French army during the Second World War, and died in action in 1940 only 29 years old. Most of Alain's music, with the notable exception of some of his organ music like the “Litanies” and “Trois Danses”, has remained relatively unknown, and the published editions contain many inaccuracies. As a result of this, when preparing this recording organist Lars Notto Birkeland has studied in detail the different manuscripts that exist of each work. Alain himself only saw the publication of five of his works during his lifetime.

Lars Notto Birkeland gave his debut organ recital at Oslo Cathedral in 1998 and has since pursued an active career, including performing Poulenc's Organ Concerto and Saint-Saëns's ‘Organ’ Symphony with the touring Oslo Philharmonic. He has given recitals at many festivals including the Bergen International Festival and Oslo International Church Music Festival. Birkeland received a government grant for artists for 2006-2008 in order to work on the music of Jehan Alain.