Axel Ruoff: Complete Works for Organ, Volume Four
The organ works of Axel Ruoff, born in Stuttgart in 1957, constitute one of the most important contributions to the literature for the instrument by any composer since Messiaen, with Ruoff often using its unparalleled resources to write music of extraordinary power and dramatic flair. This fourth volume in Jan Lehtola’s complete recording presents three large-scale compositions: a set of chorale variations, a sardonic suite and a monumental organ symphony, all displaying the wild sweep of Ruoff’s imagination.
Jan Lehtola, organ
Listen To This Recording:
- Introduction, Grave –
- Variation 1, Andante tranquillo –
- Variation 2, Lento assai –
- Variation 3, Scherzando –
- Variation 4, Vivace con fuoco –
- Variation 5, Presto agitato –
- Variation 6, Maestoso –
- Variation 7, Misterioso –
- Variation 8, Moderato, molto marcato –
- Variation 9, Pastorale, Lento assai, dolcissimo –
- Variation 10, Allegro precipitando –
- Variation 11, Moderato –
- Variation 12, Allegro molto –
- Variation 13, Presto con fuoco – Prestissimo –
- Fugue, Lento – Più mosso, misterioso – Allegro – Allegro vivace – Largo – Grave assai
- I Prélude, Prestissimo
- II Danse champêtre, Agiatamente; farsesco
- III Nocturne, Lento strascinando
- IV Marche héroïque, Alla marcia, malizioso
- V Finale: Allegro con fuoco; molto marcato
- I Grave – Lento assai, tristamente – Grave – Lento assai
- II Prestissimo – Grave
- III Adagietto –
- IV Toccata: Allegro precipitando
Introduction, Variations and Fugue on the chorale ‘Das Volk, das noch im Finstern wandelt’ (2005)*
Suite grotesque (2019)*
Symphony No. 1 (2013)
*FIRST RECORDINGS
MusicWeb International :
‘What we have is a contemporary composer who combines a wide compositional palette with a complete formal command of his material. […]
Toccata Classics has an established reputation for producing high quality recordings of contemporary music and the opportunity to get to know new music of such quality is to be greatly valued. The standard of production is always uniformly high, as are the performances. […]
Jan Lehtola is an excellent advocate for this music, seemingly making light of the technical challenges and holding the listener’s attention throughout. The recording is excellent and the organ in St Paul’s Church, Helsinki , an instrument of 52 stops, has all the colour and variety that the music requires. A most satisfying release.’
—Martyn Strachan, MusicWeb International