Christopher Herrick continues to thrill us with another lavish set of organ delicacies that are guaranteed to put one into a literal trancelike mood all round.
Ketelbey's delightful 'In a Monastery Garden' is absolutely transformed by the organ arrangement and Carl Nielsen's 'Five Little Préludes' also show Herrick's masterly penchant in creating something out of nothing, especially in the closing stages of this mystical group of pieces.
A large part of the disc is put over to Brahms' deeply introspective Eleven Chorale Préludes, here the organist is faced with tantamount heroics and shifts of mood that would be enough to drive anyone off his rocker!
I also hugely enjoyed Alexandre Guilmant's Marche de Procession having just heard it on the Guild label for orchestral forces. The contrasts in both versions are utterly fascinating. Herrick also includes other gems by Whitlock, Howells and Lindberg that continue to add to the wide variety on this superb disc.
An outstanding recording sets the seal on another winner in this delectable Organ Dreams series.
Copyright © 2002, Gerald Fenech