Karg-Elert : Ultimate Organ Works Vol.7 Elke Völker

• Sigfrid Karg-Elert (1877 - 1933): 66 Choral-Improvisations Op. 65:
• 1 No. 45 "Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir" 03:50
• 2 No. 46 "Christe, du Lamm Gottes" 03:05
• 3 No. 47 "Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott" 06:07
• 4 No. 48 "Jerusalem, du hochgebaute Stadt" 04:48
• 5 No. 49 "Meinen Jesum laß ich nicht" 01:57
• 6 No. 50 "O Gott, du frommer Gott (2nd version)" 02:22
• 7 No. 51 "Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele" 02:38
• 8 No. 52 "Sollt es gleich bisweilen scheinen" 01:24
• 9 No. 53 "Straf mich nicht in deinem Zorn" 01:58
• 10 No. 54 "Werde munter, mein Gemüte" 03:22
• 11 No. 55 "Wer weiß, wie nahe mir mein Ende" 04:40
• 12 No. 56 "Jesu, geh voran" 06:37
• 13 No. 57 "Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier" 03:02
• 14 No. 58 "Lobe den Herrn, den mächtigen König" 04:20
• 15 No. 59 "Nun danket alle Gott - Marche triomphale" 04:06
• 16 No. 60 "O du Liebe meiner Liebe (Bei dir Jesu, will ich bleiben)" 04:17
• 17 No. 61 "Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan" 02:25
• 18 No. 62 "Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten" 03:30
• 19 No. 63 "Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten" 04:12
• 20 No. 64 "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern (Ich und mein Haus)" 03:36
• 21 No. 65 "Wie wohl ist mir, o Freund der Seelen" 01:54
• 22 No. 66 "Wunderbarer König" 06:56
• Total Runtime 01:21:06

Info for Karg-Elert : Ultimate Organ Works Vol.7

With the release of this seventh volume of our Karg-Elert edition for the first time ever a complete recording of the 66 chorale improviasationen of op.65 is available on HighResAudio!

Elke Völker has recorded this extensive opus filling three complete SACDs on three different Walcker organs from the beginning of the 20th century. The present recording was made in August 2013 on the 1904 3-manual Walcker organ (restored in 2012) in the Heidelberg Church of Christ. The cycle closes with the triumphant chorale improvisation "Wonderful King" where the organ is joined by two trumpets, two trombones and two kettle-drums in accordance with the idea of the composer. The Karg-Elert Edition will continue in the fall of 2014 with Vol.8, recorded on the Steinmeyer organ of the Mannheim Christ Church.

Elke Völker, organ

Elke Völker
studied school music at the Mannheim State College of Music, as well as romance languages at the University of Mannheim.

From 1992 on she studied organ at the Mannheim College of Music with Leo Krämer. Subsequently Concert Diploma (with distinction), Church Music studies (A- diploma) in Mainz (Hans-Jürgen Kaiser, Mathias Breitschaft) and degrees in Musicology (Dorothea Redepenning) and German Studies at the University of Heidelberg.

A scholarship allowed her to study with Wolfgang Rübsam (University of Chicago), with Nicholas Kynaston (London) and with Michelle Leclerc (Schola Cantorum, Paris), where she obtained the Concert Diploma («Premier Prix» with distinction „très bien a l’unanimité”). Master classes and private studies with Jean Guillou and Daniel Roth (Paris), Jon Laukvik and Ludger Lohmann (Stuttgart), and Piet Kee (Haarlem) ensued.

Ms. Völker has been a prizewinner in several international competitions including the Grand Prize and Audience Prize at the “Internationaler Orgelwettbewerb Dom zu Speyer”, in 1995 and the 2nd Prize of the “International Organ Competition Frey- ming/Lorraine”. In 1999 she was finalist of the “Concours International d’Orgue de la Ville de Paris”. “Medaille de la Ville de Paris”. 2001 she got scholar of Rotary International. 2002 3rd Prize of the “International Organ Competition of Erfurt”. Her Karg-Elert recordings have been awarded by the international music press.

She has worked as a church musician for over 15 years at Speyer cathedral.

Her international success has - last but not least - established her excellent reputation as one of the most demanded organists, which led to an extensive international concert and teaching career.

Numerous broadcastings, television- and CD recordings as well as musicological publications testify to her extensive activities.

Booklet for Karg-Elert : Ultimate Organ Works Vol.7