Gunnar IDENSTAM: Metal Angel
Metal Angel is a collection of eighteen pieces and a Symphonic Sonata for organ by Gunnar Idenstam, born in Swedish Lappland in 1961; this album presents fifteen of these pieces in a series of three suites. Written between 2013 and 2019, they exploit the full range of the modern symphonic organ to give musical expression to the idea of angels in a Gothic fantasy world. Idenstam’s distinctive musical language blends the physical energy of symphonic rock and metal and the modal cast of Scandinavian folk-music with an approach to the organ in the French cathedral tradition of such composers as Dupré, Vierne and Widor. This recording presents some of the most fiercely exciting organ music of recent years, in high-voltage performances by the composer himself.
Gunnar Idenstam, organ of Monaco Cathedral
First recordings
Listen To This Recording:
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Suite I
- I Introduction
- II Waiting for
- III Gothic Garden
- IV Toccata V
- V Metal Angel
- I Angel’s Theme
- II Saga One
- III Dark Angel
- IV Elegy for an Absent Angel
- V Falling Angel
- I Polina’s Song
- II Golden Angel
- III Archangel
- IV Black Angel
- V Saga III: Epilogue
Suite II
Suite III
MusicWeb International :
‘With the magnificent instrument at the Monaco Cathedral at his disposal Idenstam has all the possibilities in the world to wring the utmost of power and sonorities out of the music. […]
Broadminded organ lovers are advised to invest in this larger-than-life adventure!’
—Göran Forsling, MusicWeb International
Kultuurpakt :
‘The result is magical. One gets the feeling of standing in front of the gates of the Holy Grail castle and the sun is shining on the towers, to make us experience a higher power inside. This album can be enjoyed by hard metal fans as well as fans of classical music, and each will be transported to their world of imagination’
—Kultuurpakt
MusicWeb International :
‘Recording of the year 2020
The combination of Scandinavian folk music and hard rock may seem odd, but when Gunnar Idenstam lets himself loose on the magnificent organ of Monte Carlo Cathedral it is irresistible. An orgy for organ freaks!’
—Göran Forsling, MusicWeb International