Nordic Journey, Volume X—Danish Perspectives
After recording Nordic Journey Volume IX in Örebro, Sweden during February 2020, Jim continued his travels into Denmark, recording two CDs of music from the Danish repertoire of compositions inspired by Danish culture. Disc One highlights the historic 1879 Olsen/1986 Marcussen organ at Helligåndskirken, a church located in center-city Copenhagen. The music on this opening cd concerns itself with the nineteenth and early twentieth-century Danish Romantic repertoire, leading up to the time of Denmark's national composer, Carl Nielsen (including this musician's valedictory masterwork, Commotio). Disc two answers the question "what happened next?" with twentieth-century neo-classic selections and contemporary offerings, the last including three commissioned works: Sinfonia Danica by Kjell Mørk Karlsen, and two compositions, Fantasia on the bridal dance from Sønderho, and Variations on the Danish folk tune "A Lovely and Joyous Summer" by Christian Præstholm. The performances on Disc Two present the 1994 Andersen Organ located in St. Morten's Church, Randers.
Find Nordic Journey, Volume X at Pro Organo. And see more of the production of Nordic Journey, Volume X here.
Fantasi, f-moll
J.P.E. Hartmann (1805–1900)
Fantasi för orgel à 4 mains, with George Chittenden, Organ
Gustav Adolf Mankel (1812–1880)
Allegro moderato (Concert, Opus. 15)
Gottfred Matthison-Hansen (1832–1909)
Concluding Movements from Variations on a Danish folk tune (A lovely and joyous summer)
Christian Præstholm (b. 1972)
Nordic Journey, Volume IX—Music from Sweden
Jim traveled to Örebro, Sweden in February 2020 where he recorded Nordic Journey Volume IX at Olaus Petri Church. The church contains a vintage 1913 Setterquist organ, restored in 2013 by Åkerman & Lund, and is an authentic vehicle for this all-Swedish program. Nordic Journey Volume IX features newly commissioned works by Anders Börjesson, Gunnar Idenstam, Nils Lindberg, and Fredrik Sixten, as well as rarities from earlier years, including Passacagalia in F-sharp minor by Herman Åkerberg, and a concerto for two organs by Gunnar Thyrestam. Jim is joined by Swedish soprano Helena Ek in a song cycle of Swedish folk melodies by Nils LIndberg, while Mats Bertilsson, organist at Olaus Petri Church, performs the Thyrestam double organ concerto on the church's choir organ while Jim plays the gallery instrument.
For more about the making of Nordic Journey, Volume IX, look here. Nordic journey, Volume IX is available from Pro Organo.
Gangar Fanfares
Gunnar Idenstam (b. 1961),
The Blessed Day/Thoughts on Four Folksongs, IV - Och inga rikedomar har jag haft, featuring Helena Ek, Soprano
Nils Lindberg (b. 1933)
Passacaglia in F-sharp minor
Herman Åkerberg (1875–1954)
Paraphrase for the organ on the Swedish Children's Song "Ekorren" (The Squirrel)
Anders Borjesson (b. 1975)
Nordic Journey, Volume VIII—Islands
Jim traveled to Reykjavík, Iceland in November 2018 to record this double CD, a project lasting over 155 minutes. Performing on the 1992 Klais organ in the iconic Hallgrímskirkja, the program is subtitled “Islands,” as the music from the outlying regions of the Nordic world, including Faroe Islands, Iceland, Gotland, Åland, and Härnön occupies a central point of departure for this endeavor. Volume VIII offers seven commissioned works including Nordic composers, Hildigunnur Rúnarsdóttir, Pauli í Sandagerði, Sigurður Sævarsson, Fredrik Sixten, Lars Karlsson, Nils Lindberg, and Kristian Blak, as well as other compositions from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Many of these latter performances appear here in premiere recordings. The spirit of the country's Norse past may be found in “The Vikings,” a work by English composer Arthur Wills, and a collection of “Icelandic Dances” composed by Jón Leifs, and arranged for organ by Hallgrímskirkja organist Björn Steinar Sólbergsson.
Learn more about Nordic Journey, Volume VIII from this video. Purchase Nordic Journey, Volume VIII from Pro Organo.
The Vikings
Arthur Wills (b. 1926)
Icelandic Dances
Jón Leifs (b.1899-1968), arr. Björn Steinar Sólbergsson
Toccata (Symphony III)
Kjell Mørk Karlsen (b. 1947)
Himna smiður (Heaven's Maker)
Sigurður Sævarsson (b. 1963)
Prelude och fuga, a-moll
Emil Sjögren (1853-1918)
Who Can Sail Without A Wind
Lars Karlsson (b. 1953)
I Oster solen op (The Sun rises in the east)
Christian Præstholm (b. 1972)
Umiaq (Boat) (from Three Settings of Folk Themes from Greenland)
Kristian Blak (b. 1947)
Toccata (from Three Pieces)
Anders S Börjesson (b. 1975)
Nordic Journey, Volume VII—The Organs of Nidaros Cathedral
Recorded in Nidaros Cathedral, Norway, the spiritual heart of that country, Nordic Journey, Volume VII features the three organs located in the world's northernmost medieval Gothic cathedral. The 156-minute double-disc release includes repertoire from the time of Johann Sebastian Bach to 2017, and Jim was joined by Nordic musicians Caroline Eidsten Dahl (recorders), Helena Ek (soprano), Arnulf Johansen (oboe), and Ola Lindseth (violin) during these recording sessions.
Music performed on the 1741 Joachim Wagner organ included eighteenth-century works by Ferdinand Zellbell and Peter Askergren as well as twentieth and twenty-first-century compositions by John Sundberg, Patrik Vretbald, and Sven-Ingvart Mikkelsen. The new choir organ built by the Norwegian firm Torkildson was the ideal vehicle for the performance of two new ensemble works from Kjell Mørk Karlsen, while the newly restored Steinmeyer organ dating from 1930 was utilized for Romantic Era pieces by Arild Sandvold, Juhani Pohjanmies, Gottfred Pederson, and Fridthjov Anderssen. The featured composition on Volume VII was a commissioned work from the pen of Swedish composer Fredrik Sixten: Symphonia Aurora Borealis, an epic six-movement work of 46 minutes. This symphony is very much a programmatic work that is a pilgrimage all in itself, juxtaposing ancient themes and folk melodies within a complex modern sensibility.
This video highlights Nordic Journey, Volume VII, the next offering from the Nordic Journey Series, which is also available from Pro Organo.
Hymn for St. Olaf featuring Arnulf Johansen, Oboe and Ola Lindseth, Violin
Kjell Mørk Karlsen (b. 1947)
Partita brevis 6 featuring Caroline Eidsten Dahl, Recorders
Kjell Mørk Karlsen (b. 1947)
Symphonia Aurora Borealis/Dark
Fredrik Sixten (b. 1962)
Symphonia Aurora Borealis/Divinity featuring Helena Ek, Soprano
Fredrik Sixten (b. 1962)
Nordic Journey, Volume VI—Organ Music from Finland
The music of Finland is the subject of Nordic Journey, Volume VI, released in September 2016. This double-disc was recorded in June of the same year at two locations in Turku, the ancient capital of Finland. Disc One features the 1980 Virtanen organ of Turku Cathedral, the most historic location of the country. Two commissioned works by contemporary Finnish composers, Mauri Viitala and Santeri Siimes, plus several multi-movement, previously unknown works from the Romantic era form the basis of this part of the release. The colorful 2002 Gronlunds organ at St. Michael's, Turku was the perfect vehicle for a program of smaller works of contrasting styles, including the four organ compositions of Jack Mattsson, a transcription of a work by Jean Sibelius, and two pieces by St. Michael's organist Marko Hakanpää.
Jim promoted Nordic Journey, Volume VI in New Zealand, northern Europe and the United States throughout 2016.
See more about Nordic Journey, Volume VI here. Nordic Journey, Volume VI is available from Pro Organo.
Canon, Partite & Fuga per organo sopra il chorale "Sen suven suloisuutta"
Mauri Viitala (b. 1948)
Fantasia-Sonaatti
Fredrik Isacsson (1883-1962)
Gigue fuuga urlee Jäätelöauton
Harri Viitanen (b. 1954)
Joy
Jack Mattsson (1954-2007)
In The Alps
Marko Hakanpää (b.1970)
Nordic Journey, Volume V—Many Landscapes
From the Faroe Islands to Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, Nordic Journey, Volume V explores the "Many Landscapes" of the northern world. This double CD was released in September 2015, being the premiere recording of the 2013 Tostareds organ at Kalmar Cathedral, Kalmar, Sweden. The sumptuous acoustics of this sacred space, combined with this organ's many tonal possibilities, provides the perfect vehicle for exploring many previously unrecorded compositions from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
Several of the works found in this collection were composed specifically for this project: Nordic Fanfare—Fredrik Sixten (Sweden), Toccata Grande II—Kjell M. Karlsen (Norway), Summer Fantasy—Sven Ingvart Mikkelsen (Denmark), Dalecarlian Pictures—Nils Lindberg (Sweden), Toccata XIII—Thomas Åberg (Sweden), and Intermezzo—Pauli í Sandagerði (the Faroe Islands).
For more about the making of Nordic Journey Volume V, watch this video. Nordic Journey, Volume V is available for purchase from Pro Organo.
Marching Tune
Nils Lindberg (b. 1933)
Vivo
Erland von Koch (1910-2009)
Intermezzo
Pauli í Sandagerði (b. 1955)
Gaudete
Bo Grønbech (b. 1951)
Nordic Journey, Volume IV—Modern Masters
In this fourth CD in the Nordic Journey series, American organist James D. Hicks records a program of contemporary organ music from twentieth and twenty-first-century composers from the Nordic nations. The organ is the 1898 Åkerman and Lund organ, restored in 1898 by Harrison and Harrison, and most recently in 2009 by Åkerman and Lund, in the Cathedral of Våsteräs, Sweden.
Learn more about the making of Nordic Journey, Volume IV by watching this video. The Nordic Journey series is available from Pro Organo.
Toccata
Kurt Wiklander (1951)
Nordic Journey, Volume III—Swedish Folkways and Classic Traditions
In this third release in the Nordic Journey series, American organist James D. Hicks explores music inspired by Nordic folk melodies. This disc contains premiere recordings of several works by 20th-century Swedish composers, as well as new composers who are active today, including Fredrik Sixten and Mårten Jansson. Performed upon the neo-classic inspired 1964 Andersen organ.
For more about Nordic Journey, Volume III watch here. Visit Pro Organo to purchase Nordic Journey, Volume III.
Toccata Festival
Fredrik Sixten (b. 1962)
Toccata och Fuga, c-moll
Jacob Nyvall (1894-1961)
A Part of My Heritage
Mårten Jansson (b. 1965)
Invention (from Three Pieces)
Uno Sandén (1924-2013)
Nordic Journey, Volume II—The Nordic Symphonic Tradition
The musical exploration of northern climes continues with Nordic Journey, Volume II, The Nordic Symphonic Tradition. This disc continues the series by featuring the late-Romantic repertoire of the early twentieth century. Recorded on the historic organ of St. Johannes' Church, Malmö in August 2013, the church's Åkerman & Lund instrument, originally built in 1908 and restored in 2008, is an ideal vehicle for the performance of this repertoire.
Researched over the course of over two years, the disc includes several world premiere performances of unpublished music in a program that demonstrates the Nordic affinity for drama and lyric expression.
Watch more about Nordic Journey, Volume II, here. Nordic Journey Volume II is available from Pro Organo.
Introduction Og Passacaglia
Páll Ísólfsson (1893-1974)
Melodia
Fredrik Isacsson (1883-1962)
Symfoniskt Orgelstycke
Erik Alvin (1902-1992)
Nordic Journey, Volume I
On a two-disc set, organist James D. Hicks performs Romantic and Modern organ works of Nordic composers on the 1929 E.A. Setterquist and Son organ at Linköping Cathedral in Linköping, Sweden. The works performed will likely be unfamiliar to even the most seasoned listener; Several premiere recordings are included.
This video was produced to highlight the making of Nordic Journey. The original Nordic Journey is available from Pro Organo.
Pastorale
Tanelli Kuusisto (1905-1988)
Sonata in G minor/Allegro poco agitato
Oskar Lindberg (1887-1955)
Prelude et Fuga
Fredrik Sixten (b. 1962)
Variations for Organ/Aria
Fredrik Sixten (b. 1962)
Variations for Organ/Toccata
Fredrik Sixten (b. 1962)