Selected recordings of Niels Otto Raasted from the Cathedral of Copenhagen, Vor Frue Church 1941-1950.
Cathedral Organist Niels Otto Raasted might need a little introduction to non-Danish organists.
The danish organist Niels Otto Raasted (1888-1966) was one of the leading – if controversial – church musicians of his time. After studies in Leipzig with Karl Straube and Max Reger he was appointed organist at the Church of Our Lady in Odense in 1915-24 and Cathedral Organist in Copenhagen in 1924-58, where he started the tradition of broadcast morning services.
In 1925 he founded the Bach Society, and he was chairman of the composers’ rights organization KODA in 1937-64. He was moreover an active concert organist and organ teacher. As a composer he kept up a high output of works throughout his life, totaling 116 opus numbers, especially organ works (six sonatas in 1917-48), choral music (Mass 1924), hymn tunes, chamber music and orchestral works (three symphonies).
In his own lifetime his music was performed frequently, especially in Denmark and Germany. The early works were romantic in style, influenced by his studies with Max Reger. From the mid-1920s one hears the influence of Carl Nielsen and a certain adaptation to the current sacred music climate in Denmark, which was dominated by Thomas Laub. With his pragmatic, non-ideological attitude to sacred music, however, he was never truly accepted by the pace-setting sacred music circles, and after his death his music was to a great extent forgotten.
(This text is from: www.naxos.com/composerinfo/Niels_Otto_Raasted/27235.htm)
These recordings were made in the period 1941-50 at the cathedral in Copenhagen (Vor Frue Kirke). One might say that his baroque playing is a little “old fashioned” compared to todays ideals. Some have even used the word “boring”, but his melodic lines are very beautiful and well proportioned, and you can hear that he was a brilliant musician with a well founded technical ability. Worth mentioning in this collection is his interpretation of “Sørgemarch ved Torvaldsens bisættelse” (“March at Torvaldsens funeral”) and the “Pastorale, koral og fuga”, op. 87.
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www.ihorc.com/ihorc/IHORC-02/IHORC-02_-_Selected_Niels_Otto_Raasted.rar
Can someone find out about this organ? A new Marcussen was put in this church in 1995. This is a lovely sounding instrument. I wonder why it was replaced?
ReplyDelete1836 Marcussen & Reuter.
ReplyDelete1902 I. Starup & Søn.
1931 Th. Frobenius & Sønner, Lyngby.
Manual I: Principal 16'; Bordun 16'; Principal 8'; Flute Harmonique 8'; Gedakt 8'; Spidsfløjt 8'; Viola 8'; Quint 5 1/3'; Oktav 4'; Gemshorn 4'; Rørfløjt 4'; Oktav 2'; Waldfløjt 2'; Quint 2 2/3'; Quintian 2 fag; Cornet 5 fag; Mixtur 5 fag; Cymbel 4 fag; Basun 16'; Trompete 8'; Zink 4'.
Manual II: Gedakt 16'; Principal 8'; Rørfløjt 8'; Quintatøn 8'; Salicional 8'; Oktav 4'; Blokfløjt 4'; Salicional 4'; Nazard 2 2/3'; Oktav 2'; Gemshorn 2'; Terz 1 3/5'; Larigot 1 1/3'; Siffløjt 1'; Scharff 5 fag; Ranket 16'; Krumhorn 8'; Regal 4'.
Manual III: Bordon d'Amore 16'; Hornprincipal 8'; Gedakt 8'; Flauto Traverso 8'; Gemshorn 8'; Viola di Gamba 8'; Aeoline 8'; Voix Celeste 8'; Oktav 4'; Fløjt 4'; Fugara 4'; Spidsquint 2 2/3'; Oktav 2'; Blokfløjt 2'; Nathorn 1'; Sesquialter 2 fag; Mixtur 6 fag; Cymbel 2 fag; Fagot 16'; Trompette Harmonique 8'; Obo 8'; Clairon 4'.
Pedal: Contrabord 32'; Principal 16'; Gemshorn 16'; Subbas 16'; Nathorn 16'; Rørquint 10 2/3'; Principal 8'; Gedakt 8'; Violoncel 8'; Spillfløjt 8'; Oktav 4'; Quintatøn 4'; Hulfløjt 4'; Oktav 2'; Blokfløjt 2'; Cornet 4 fag; Mixtur 5 fag; Basun 16'; Bombarde 16'; Trompet 8'; Dulcian 8'; Euphon 4'; Singend Cornet 2'.
Couplers: Manual I - Manual II; Manual I - Manual III; Manual II - Manual III; Pedal - Manual I; Pedal - Manual II; Pedal - Manual III; Generalkoppel.
Accessories: 4 frie Kombinationer; Generalcrescendo; Tutti; Pedal-Tutti.
A new Frobenius organ was put in this church in 1965. In 1994 it was transferred to Tullamore (Ireland).