Richard Wagner, an Organic Journey - Eight Historical Organ Transcriptions

Although Wagner didn’t compose organ music himself, it is not difficult to imagine his colorful orchestrations transcribed for the organ. To enrich an overly ecclesiastic organ repertoire, 19th-century composers such as the legendary organist Edwin Lemare, Sigfrid Karg-Elert, and Franz Liszt created organ transcriptions of beloved Wagner operas like Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg,Tristan und Isolde, and Tannhäuser. With their intricate layering and dramatic counterpoints, these operas proved a perfect match for the splendor of the Romantic organ. The resulting works not only allowed audiences to experience Wagner's music in the contemplative spaces of the church but also highlighted the organ's expressive power and grandeur. Each piece on this new album by Nederlandse Muziekprijs winner Laurens de Man reveals the organ's capacity to convey Wagner's rich, polyphonic textures and profound emotional depth. This album is available in a hand-numbered limited edition of 600 copies.