Tuesday 12 July resounded in Brussels with the majestic tones of the grand Grenzing organ in the Sint-Michiels- and Sint-Goedele Cathedral, one of the finest Gothic structures in the capital, during the opening concert of the 10th organ festival ARS in Cathedrali. The cathedral's 'positive' or small pipe organ was also heard. Especially for this occasion, chief organist Xavier Deprez had composed a colourful work for organ, voice and baroque instruments.
This first concert with the theme 'old and new' demonstrated how the organ remains a resolutely contemporary instrument, whose music lends particular lustre to the complexity of harmony.
With 'Le vent souffle où il veut' (The wind blows where it will) Xavier Deprez responded to a request from Ensemble Filiae (2 singers, recorder / viola da gamba and an organist), who wished for a work based on a text from the Gospel about the wind. The result is an ode to the mysterious and unexpected meanings that the wind – or the spirit – can whisper to us, just as God has mapped out many paths for us. And when we are asked to leave our comfort zone, that is precisely what was asked of the singers at yesterday's concert, who tackled their task with surprising harmonies and verve.
With 'L'eau et le feu' (Water and fire), the world premiere for this first concert, the organist drew inspiration from two other symbolic elements and, with the addition of the choir Desuper (eight-part) and a violinist, brought together no fewer than fourteen musicians in total.
The concept is inspired in form by the sonata, a form type whose strict rules were developed in the 17th century and which, as a starting point, allows one or more separate themes to be heard that contrast with each other, just like water and fire.
The festival ARS in Cathedrali continues throughout the summer, with a concert each Tuesday at 8 p.m.
The next concert, with the theme 'Belgian Solutions', is scheduled for Tuesday 19 July.
The organists will be Cindy Castillo and Pierre Slinckx. On the programme: works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Joseph Jongen and Pierre Slinckx.
Information and booking: www.cathedralisbruxellensis.be