American organ works from the last 25 years

Many of modern America’s best composers for organ have been organists themselves. This program was selected for the large, late-18th century romantic organ in the St. Petri Cathedral in Bremen, Germany, although it would work equally well on modern American instruments. From the ostinato rhythms of Hampton’s Dances, to the scripture-inspired sacred dances by Sandresky; from Bolcom’s gospel prelude, imitating sounds of a Hammond organ (and using Rhythm and Blues elements), to the Nocturne by Albright, imitating sounds of a marimba, these composers all take traditional forms and sounds, and gently twist them into something new.

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Works performed on the “Something old, something new…” program include:

Bernard Wayne Sanders, Festlicher Einzug zum V. Ton and Choral prelude on Rendez à Dieu
Margaret Vardell Sandresky, from Five Sacred Dances for Solo Organ
William Albright, from Organbook III
Dan Locklair, from Salem Sonata
William Bolcom, Gospel Prelude – Sometimes I Feel
Calvin Hampton, from Five Dances for Organ