Organistes de la Catedral de Barcelona

Opinions

1. Martin Voortman 12 de febrer de 2014

   This CD is an outstanding presentation of the organ music being played in Barcelona cathedral during the 18th century. The works are the following: Verset sets by Joan Saló (organist from 1709 to 1742), the only works known from this author in our time. Tiento partido de mano derecha de 5° tono and –one of the best Catalan organ works of that period- Obra de lleno sobre la Salve de 2° tono of Francesc Mariner (1720-1789). Mariner served as an organist from 1742 to 1786, his nephew and pupil Carles Baguer (1768-1808) being his successor at the organ. Let’s notice that a slightly modernized style in comparison whith that of the famous Cabanilles was at least copied by organ students in Barcelona up to the second half of the 18th century. We can guess that it was just the style cultivated at the time the troups of Philipp the Vth traumatically conquered Barcelona in 1714. It was the style of the great organ master Josep Elies, who went to Madrid in 1725 and set the fundaments to renew the Spanish organ style following Italian patterns. His later works were studied and highly appreciated in Catalonia as well, to the point that we can recognize Mariner’s Obra de 2° tono being a tribute to his Pieza segunda de 2° tono. In Catalonia, besides of Montserrat, it is Mariner who becomes the most popular organ master before 1760. That can be stated from the numerous copies of his works found in Catalan archives dated up to 1824. Some of the works of Baguer were restituted from their sources for the first time to compose the programme of the CD. The same happened to the verset series of Baguer’s pupil and successor Mateu Ferrer (1788-1864). A gregorian schola sings, alternating whith organ versets, the plainchant like it was use in Barcelona in that time. It is almost impossible to offer a better sound revival of music history.