Concerto in D - Druckmuller
Sonate d'intavolatura per organo e cembalo (exc) - Zipoli
Sei gegrusset, Jesu gutig BWV768 - Bach
Larghetto, Introduction and Fuga - Wesley
Canonic Studies Op 56 Nos 46 - Schumann Fantasia in F minor K608 - Mozart
Gerard Gillen's organ recital at St Michael's Church, Dun Laoghaire, last night featured music written during, or inspired by, the late Baroque period. The true Baroque pieces included a rather ill-proportioned Concerto in D by Druckmuller and three pieces from Zipoli's Sonate d'intavolatura per organo e cembalo.
These liturgical compositions included an interesting Canzona and two slight but inventive pieces, "All' offer torio" and "Al post comm unio". They tread the wilder shores of Italian, Scarlatti-like figuration and whetted my appetite for more from Zipoli.
The heavyweight end of the Baroque was represented by Bach's Sei gegrusset, Jesu gutig BWV768. This assemblage of variations was written at two different periods and is not the most cohesive of Bach's works of this kind. It comes across best when each variation is made highly individual. Gerard Gillen achieved this through effective registration and variety in rhythmic articulation.
Gillen's playing of Schumann's Canonic Studies Op. 56, Nos 4-6 was sensitive. Nevertheless, the sounds produced by this neo-Baroque instrument do not sit well with this music's Romantic expression.
In that respect, the contrast with Mozart's highly contrapuntal Fantasia in F minor K608 was striking. This technically demanding piece came across well and was the recital's highlight both in the quality of the music and in the playing.