Flor Peeters: Organ Music Roberto Marini

• Flor Peeters (1903 - 1986): Vlaamse Rhapsodie, Op. 37:
• 1 Vlaamse Rhapsodie, Op. 37 13:25
• Suite Modale, Op. 43:
• 2 Suite Modale, Op. 43: I. Koraal 02:05
• 3 Suite Modale, Op. 43: II. Scherzo 04:01
• 4 Suite Modale, Op. 43: III. Adagio 04:41
• 5 Suite Modale, Op. 43: IV. Toccata 04:50
• Aria, Op. 51:
• 6 Aria, Op. 51 04:39
• Elégie, Op. 38:
• 7 Elégie, Op. 38 06:46
• Paraphrase on "Salve regina", Op. 123:
• 8 Paraphrase on "Salve regina", Op. 123 07:57
• Lied-Symphony, Op. 66:
• 9 Lied-Symphony, Op. 66: I. Lied to the Ocean 09:02
• 10 Lied-Symphony, Op. 66: II. Lied to the Desert 05:25
• 11 Lied-Symphony, Op. 66: III. Lied to the Flowers 06:02
• 12 Lied-Symphony, Op. 66: IV. Lied to the Mountains 04:12
• 13 Lied-Symphony, Op. 66: V. Lied to the Sun 06:26
• Toccata, fugue et hymne sur "ave Maris Stella", Op. 28:
• 14 Toccata, fugue et hymne sur "ave Maris Stella", Op. 28: I. Toccata 04:52
• 15 Toccata, fugue et hymne sur "ave Maris Stella", Op. 28: II. Fugue 02:52
• 16 Toccata, fugue et hymne sur "ave Maris Stella", Op. 28: III. Hymne 01:58
• Symphonic Fantasy on an Eastern Gregorian Alleluia, Op. 13
• 17 Symphonic Fantasy on an Eastern Gregorian Alleluia, Op. 13 10:00
• 3 Preludien und Fugen, Op. 72:
• 18 3 Preludien und Fugen, Op. 72: I. Preludium und Fuge in F Major 05:56
• 19 3 Preludien und Fugen, Op. 72: II. Preludium und Fuge in F Minor 05:50
• 20 3 Preludien und Fugen, Op. 72: III. Preludium und Fuge in A Major 07:45
• Variationen und Finale über ein altflämisches Lied, Op. 20
• 21 Variationen und Finale über ein altflämisches Lied, Op. 20 16:49
• Sinfonia per organo, Op. 48:
• 22 Sinfonia per organo, Op. 48: I. Allegro energico 07:48
• 23 Sinfonia per organo, Op. 48: II. Adagio 03:57
• 24 Sinfonia per organo, Op. 48: III. Fantasia 05:17
• 25 Sinfonia per organo, Op. 48: IV. Fuga 05:45
• Total Runtime 02:38:20

Info for Flor Peeters: Organ Music

Vibrantly coloured organ music by a Dutch master of the last century, in a new recording on a magnificent Klais instrument.

Peeters, who died in 1986 on his 83rd birthday, was one of the most representative figures of the European Romantic organ school, a distinguished recitalist and sought-after teacher. He gave over 200 recitals (notably in the USA and USSR), his programmes centring on Bach, Flemish music and contemporary works. His output as a composer centred on music for his own instrument, and Roberto Marini has chosen a representative selection from a large body of work influenced as much by Gregorian chant as Flemish folktunes, as theharmonies of Marcel Dupré and by the improvisatory technique of his great friend Tournemire.

Curiously, given his established reputation, there are very few recordings dedicated to this repertoire, which is mostly excerpted in compilations. But Roberto Marini’s recital allows listeners and not only organists to grasp Peeters’ achievement in the round. A work such as the Toccata, Fugue and Hymn stretches the technique of even a virtuoso organist. By contrast, the ever-popular Aria belongs in the bench of every church organist in northern Europe.

Among the highlights here is a complete performance of the five-movement Lied Symphony, including substantially worked ‘songs’ to the ocean, the desert, the flowers, the mountains and finally the sun (another astonishingly vivid toccata). There is no presently available complete recording of the symphony, or of the expansive Vlaamse Rhapsodie, which makes Marini’s collection all the more indispensable for organ enthusiasts.

On this recording Roberto Marini plays the Klais organ of the Kristus Koningkerk in Antwerp, Peeters’ home city. The booklet includes Marini’s lucid and helpful commentary on the works themselves plus a full organ specification.

Flor Peeters was born in Tielen (Belgium), on 4 July 1903; he studied at the Lemmens Institute in Mechelen and in 1925 became the titular organist of the St. Rombaut cathedral in the same city. In 1926 he began his concert career which led him to hold concerts all over the world, becoming one of the greatest virtuosos of Europe. He dedicated a significant part of his life to teaching: first in the conservatory of Ghent (B) and Tilburg (NL), then in the Antwerp Conservatory, of which he became director in 1952.

Although Peeters composed symphonic works, chamber music and songs, it is for his Organ Works that he is mainly remembered. In these works he was inspired by Gregorian Chant and the Flemish polyphonists. This new recording presents Peeters’ complete works for organ, consisting of the Suite Modale, the fascinating Lied Symphony, the Sinfonia Per Organo, Preludes, Flemish Rhapsody and a Symphonic Fantasy on a Gregorian Theme.

Italian organist Roberto Marini plays the magnificent Kleis organ (1930) of the Kristus Koning Kerk in Antwerp, an instrument which Flor Peeters himself inaugurated. The booklet contains extensive liner notes on the works as well as the full specifications of the organ.

Roberto Marini, organ

Roberto Marini
regarded as a great musical virtuoso, deeply versed in Romantic, late-Romantic and modern repertoire, is considered as one of the greatest Italian performers internationally renowned. Critics have defined him as: interpreter charismatic with formidable technical skills, extremely musical, romantic and passionate musician, master in the use of organ stops, a real natural talent and one of the most important interpreters of Max Reger.

He made his debut very young with the most famous compositions by J.S. Bach, becoming a pupil of the world-famous Italian organist Fernando Germani, in Rome. He scored full marks in his Diploma in Organ and Organ Composition, performing Reger’s Variations and Fugue on an Original Theme, Op. 73. In 1994 he received the prestigious ‘Premier prix de virtuosité d’orgue’ under Lionel Rogg at the Geneva Conservatory, Switzerland. In addition to his musical studies, Marini also has a degree in Law.

A career highlight was marked by his performance of a complete Bach and Reger cycle, under the patronage of the German Embassy, the Max Reger Institute (D) and the Italian Episcopal Conference – the series attracted international attention. A winner of numerous organ competitions, for many years he has successfully pursued a concert career, performing in various important international festivals in Italy and abroad, always widely acclaimed by both critics and audiences. He specializes in the art of improvisation and he dedicates himself to the promotion of contemporary authors that have also dedicated him their compositions.

For label Fugatto he has published in 17 CDs the complete organ works of Max Reger receiving excellent reviews in prestigious international music magazines. His discography includes also the complete organ works of R. Schumann (Brilliant classic), of J. Brahms and a DVD containing the most important organ works of Liszt and Reubke (Fugatto), achieving widespread acclaim. He has recorded for both Vatican Radio and RAI, the Italian national broadcaster, German ARD and Spanish RTVE. His performances and his recordings are broadcast by International radios and televisions.

Roberto Marini is professor of organ at the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music in Rome, and professor of organ and Gregorian chant at the Conservatory of Music in Pescara, where he served for many years as vice-director. He is artistic director of the International Organ Festival in Teramo (Italy), of the Antoni Martorell IOF in Mallorca (Spain) and of the Organ Summer in Castelbasso (Italy); he is member of the board of directors of the “Associazione Italiana di Snta Cecilia”. He is titular organist of Teramo Cathedral.

Booklet for Flor Peeters: Organ Music