Kurt Lueders at the Stoltz-Frres Organ (1899) of the Iglesia San Pedro Apostol, Bergara
AEOLUS AE 10311
78'52"
www.aeolus-music.com

In his detailed programme notes Lueders points out that wealthy Parisian churches like Sainte-Clotilde would employ several musicians, including two organists under the leadership of a music director. So alongside Csar Franck at the Cavaill-Coll organ at Sainte-Clotilde's west end worked Samuel-Alexander Rousseau at the east end. Not surprisingly his organ works are very Franckian in style, particularly the lengthy Fantaisie (Op 73), but shorter pieces like the Scherzo and Echo show that he was capable of a lighter, more secular style of writing in the manner of Faur, Gigout or Saint-Sans.

Lueder's performances are everything one could wish for; a singing touch, warm rubato and a masterly use of the Stoltz organ. This magnificent instrument set in a resonant acoustic is a great survivor from the 19th century and one can relish its warm, colourful flutes, strings and heroic reeds - if only modern continental organs could sound like this!
CN