6.220675 - Schumann: The Roots and the Flower: Counterpoint in Bloom by OUR Recordings published on 2021-08-17T16:43:18Z The Roots and the Flower: Counterpoint in Bloom Schumann Opus 56 & 60 CD Catalogue No: 6.220675 UPC: 747313167562 Jens E. Christensen playing the historic Baroque organ in Vor Frelser Church, Copenhagen Although Robert Schumann's public role in the nineteenth century Bach revival is less well-known than that of Felix Mendelssohn, Schumann's engagement with the music of Bach not only helped to not only establish the Myth of Bach as the progenitor of musical Romanticism, but had a deep personal influence on Schumann's own musical thought. In 1843 he and Clara rented a custom-made pedalflügel - a dreadnought of an instrument combining a combination of Friedrich Wieck's grand piano with a pedal keyboard - that enabled the Schumann's to play Bach's organ music at home. During one of his periodic bouts of depression in 1845 Schumann became gripped by what he called Fugenpassion. His obsession with Bach and the academic disciplines of counterpoint, canon, and fugue seemed to have had a benevolent effect on his mental health, so he and Clara began writing counterpoint and fugues together. Among the first results were Opp 56 and 60. The curious name of this album references Carl Nielsen’s advice to fellow composer Ture Rangström, namely, to get down to the roots of a piece so that it would truly flower. And so following Nielsen’s advice, acclaimed organist Jens E. Christensen, a master of styles ancient and modern, dug deep to uncover the roots of Schumann’s imagination for this truly extraordinary program, a lovingly cultivated German-Danish, Piano-Organ, Baroque-Romantic hybrid, that will no doubt become a perennial favorite for fans of Schumann’s most florid contrapuntal creations. Recorded in DXD audio format (Digital eXtreme Definition), 352.8 kHz/24 or 32bit. by producer Preben Iwan, www.timbremusic.dk “This album is dedicated to the memory of my life companion, Henrik Sten Møller” - Jens E. Christensen Music: Excerpts from: Studie op. 56 No. 1 C Major (Nicht zu schnell) Fuge op. 60 No. 1 (Langsam) Studie op. 56 No. 2 A Minor (Mit innigem Ausdruck) Studie op. 56 No. 3 E Major (Andantino) Fuge op. 60 No. 3 (Mit sanften Stimmen) Studie op. 56 No. 4 A-flat Major (Innig) Studie op. 56 No. 5 B Minor (Nicht zu schnell) Fuge op. 60 No. 6 (Mässig, nach und nach schneller) Genre Classical