Sir Edward Meets Father Willis: Simon Nieminski Plays Elgar Transcribed
At St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland, organist Simon Nieminski presides at a large 1879 Henry Willis 4-66 (“Father” Willis, progenitor of the dynasty of four British organbuilders named Henry Willis) to play transciptions of mostly orchestral works by Edward Elgar, including Nieminski’s own transcription of the rare, 14-minute work “Polonia,” Op. 76 filled with Polish themes. A sonic treat, the recoding is produced in the new high-resolution SACD surround sound and is also entirely compatible with conventional CD players. EDWARD ELGAR: Polonia, op. 76, trans. Nieminski entire Enigma Variations, op. 36, trans. Ruaraidh Sutherland Chanson de Matin and Chanson de Nuit, op. 15, trans. Herbert Brewer Contrasts: The Gavotte AD 1700 and 1900, op. 10/3, trans. Matthew Kingston Minuet from Beau Brummel (1928) trans. Purcell J. Mansfield Prelude and Angel’s Farewell from The Dream of Gerontius, op. 38, trans. Brewer