Marie Joseph Erb: Organ Works, Volume Two
The enormously prolific Marie Joseph Erb (1858–1944) has somehow escaped the attention of posterity, although the quality of his music is on a par with contemporary organist-composers whose works are far better known. Erb’s long life – he heard Berlioz conduct in 1863 and was still composing 80 years later – was focused on Strasbourg, where he was active as pianist, organist and professor, though he had studied in Paris, with Fauré, Gigout, Saint-Saëns and Widor, and later with Liszt in Weimar. This second Jan Lehtola/Toccata Classics album devoted to his organ music sandwiches six short pieces intended for liturgical use between two monumental works; indeed, in its combination of architectural magnificence and emotional intensity, the Sonata on Chorale Themes of the Catholic Liturgy may be one of the finest of all organ sonatas.
Jan Lehtola, organ of Tampere Cathedral
Listen To This Recording:
Sonate über Choralthemen der katholischen Liturgie, Op. 70 (26:48)
- I. Maestoso e lento (7:43)
- II. O Crux, eve, spes unica (Molto moderato e espressivo) (6:00)
- III. Allegro moderato (9:02)
- IV. Epilog (Lento) (4:03)
Zwanzig Orgelstücke zum Gebrauch beim Gottesdienst, Op. 73*
- No. 1, Praeludium über ‘O salutaris hostia’ (2:29)
- No. 2, Postludium über ‘Pange lingua’ (2:10)
- No. 3, Alla Marcia bei Trauungen (4:03)
- No. 4, Méditation über ‘Dies irae’ und ‘Lux aeterna’ (3:31)
- No. 6, Zum Offertorium oder als Nachspiel (3:30)
- No. 12, Impromptu über ‘Puer natus est nobis’ (4:13)
Suite pour Grand Orgue, Op. 90 (1920)* (35:46)
- I. Alleluia (13:06)
- II. Pastorale (8:41)
- III. Cantilène (7:08)
- IV. Ite, missa est (6:51)
*First Recordings
Classical Music Sentinel :
‘Fortunately for all of us organists out there, classical music labels like Toccata Classics are still hard at work researching, unearthing and recording hitherto unheard pipe organ pieces relegated to the dark corners of musical history, which are nonetheless just as impressive and of musical importance as any of the more popular works by famous composers. […]
What I admire most about Alsatian composer Marie Joseph Erb’s writing is his propensity for engaging themes and/or motifs that weave their way throughout a piece and serve as beacons along the way. […]
Highly recommended to any and all pipe organ music enthusiasts.’
—Jean-Yves Duperron, Classical Music Sentinel