|
Title: Naji Hakim (b. 1955): Chamber Concertos 1 and 2 etc. from Signum Post by: kyjo on January 02, 2013, 02:47:42 am This Danish organist and composer of Lebanese origin writes in a tonal style that is very accessible. Most of his works include the organ, either solo or with orchestra. This new disc from Signum includes his Chamber Concertos 1 The Sun Always Shines on Beirut and 2 Come, Let Us Go to Bethlehem for chamber ensemble as well as the Concerto no. 4 for organ and chamber ensemble and the 12 Sakskobing Preludes for solo organ. Here's a description from RI: The first chamber concerto pays tribute to Hakim’s Lebanese origins, with Lebanese folksongs lending an exotic inflection to a lively, appealing work based on these as well as on songs of J.P.E. Hartmann and Nielsen, transcribed and varied to form a continuous cycle of attractive melodic contrasts. The second is a three-movement work in the form of Bach’s Italian Concerto, and derives its material from Danish Christmas carols, which are developed and varied more than the songs in the first, but in a similar, appealing tonal idiom. The organ concerto also takes its inspiration from devotional texts and hymns, joyfully praising the Holy Spirit in two outer movements of lively good humor and rhythmic buoyancy, balanced by a gently flowing variation-form middle movement which builds to a joyous climax, a bucolic vision of life in Heaven. The delightful little chorale preludes are based on Danish hymn chorales, which originated, as hymns are wont to do, in various folk and church sources, and from the pens of various composers, including Nielsen. In their lively spirit and harmonic ingenuity they actually recall the Nielsen of the Little Suite or Serenata in vano. Danish Chamber Players; Naji Hakim (organ of Vangede Kirke, Gentofte, Denmark). The composer plays the organ and conducts the Danish Chamber Players at the same time in this recording. (http://recordsinternational.com/images/cds/01O/01O074.jpg) BTW, if you haven't investigated it already, Alba recorded his Organ Concertos 1 and 3 (with string orchestra) along with some other works: (http://recordsinternational.com/images/cds/04L/04L102.jpg) That's also a highly enjoyable disc! :) |