Audio Review: The American & French Muses
The American & French Muses
Timothy Olsen, Organ
Judith Saxton, Trumpet, Flugelhorn
With his second installment of Pipe Organs of North Carolina, Timothy Olsen features another powerful instrument located in “The Old North State.” Olsen, Professor of Organ at UNCSA, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to these compositions featuring American and French composers. By recording the works of composers Grigny, Gervaise, and Franck, Olsen and Saxton are able to showcase the specific features of the C.B. Fisk Organ located in Crawford Hall at UNCSA. The design of the Fisk organ allows the selections for this album to flourish throughout the recording. In addition to some standards of the organ repertoire, three selections – the Travers, Oliver, and Sandresky – are being recorded for the first time.
On an album of music ranging from 1540 to 1989, Olsen shows great control and understanding of the Fisk Organ by playing specific pieces in certain registers to pull out the necessary colors needed for the vast array of styles. Whether it is hymns, dances, or modern compositions, both Olsen and Saxton offer a beautiful balance of trumpet and organ playing. Saxton allows the trumpet (and flugelhorn) to sing through the hall, while Olsen portrays superb interpretations of music that yearns for the listener to hear in a live setting one day.
Favorite Track: Frost and Wind. A beautiful yet stirring piece with a slow beginning, mindful of a bleak morning, rising then to the rustling of the wind – reminiscent of an incoming storm – eventually bringing the listener back to a place of calm and rest.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this recording free from Bill Van Pelt of Raven CD. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
