Musical contribution - August 2017

On Wings of Song - F. Mendelssohn (1809-1847)

For years I’ve wanted to arrange this title for organ. And now it’s finally happened. You might already know that I and my good friend and colleague Jan Lenselink (pianist) perform as a duo. Our fifth album came out recently, titled ‘New Collection’. Our programme is always in the form of a triptych: Classical, Spiritual song, Light music (film, musical, etc.) This beautiful work can be found on our second album, arranged for organ and piano. This month it’s arranged for solo organ.

In 1834, Mendelssohn set a number of Heinrich Heine’s poems to music. This is the second part of “Sechs Gesänge” for soprano and piano. It’s very much worth listening to.

Approach this part as a peaceful pastoral with a beautiful leading stop. The melody remains strong no matter whether you choose a flute 8’, a principal 8’, a nasard 3’ or a soft reed. A nice, quiet accompaniment in the 16th with an 8’ and a pedal board with 16’ and 8’ (note: never register only a 16’, otherwise you won’t experience any tone).

I hope you will enjoy playing this music as much as I do!

With musical regards,

André van Vliet