WALTER BRAUNFELS (1882-1954): Concerto for Organ, Boys Choir and Orchestra, Op. 38, Symphonische Variationen über ein altfranzösisches Kinderlied, Op. 15, Toccata, Adagio und Fuge in F Minor for Organ, Op. 43.

Description: World Premiere Recordings. The 1909 Variations are an opulently late Romantic work of 16 minutes, premiered by Hermann Abendroth and remaining in the German repertoire until 1933 when Abendroth was stripped of all his positions by the Nazis. Dating from 1927, the concerto was premiered by Furtwängler with Günther Ramin at the organ. Lasting 37 minutes in this performance, it is conceived as a giant fantasy-chorale-fugue sequence with the 16-minute adagio constructed as a chorale prelude with the boys' voices coming in only at the end. They also only appear at the end of the finale, a huge double fugue. Woodwinds are done without, the organ interacting with the strings with three trumpets, bass trombone, timpani and bass drum making only a few, telling appearances. The organ solo piece was started in 1933, after composition became the only thing Braunfels could still do, but was not completed until 1942 and not premiered until 1946. Representative of his final period, it is characterized by brevity, concentration and deep expressivity. Iveta Apkalna (organ - concerto), Hansjörg Albrecht (organ - op. 43), Tolz Boys Choir, Munich Symphony Orchestra; Hansjörg Albrecht.