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Cavaillé-Coll organ at Holy Cross Cathedral in Orleans, France
Our songs are without words, colorful portraits painted with tones alone. This week, Paul Manz spins tuneful improvisations around familiar holiday melodies, and then Olivier Messiaen infuses mere chords and rhythms with an almost iconic presence.
Shepherds and Magi, heavenly hosts and eternal purposes hover above a mother and child in Bethlehem, as we meditate upon the magic of the season and the mysteries of faith. Nine recitalists, from Germany, Britain, Sweden, the United States and France retell the story of The Nativity of the Lord in a unique expression for holiday reflection.
PAUL MANZ: Preludes on Christmas Themes -Paul O. Manz (1965 Schlicker/Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, MN) Manz CD-923 (Manz Music, 1434 Hewitt Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55104; 651-644-5036)
OLIVIER MESSIAEN: The Virgin and Child, fr La Nativité du Seigneur -Paul Jacobs (1949 Wicks/St. Mary's Basilica, Minneapolis, MN) American Public Media tape (recorded 5/9/02)
MESSIAEN: The Word, fr La Nativité -Wolfgang Rübsam (1880 Cavaillé-Coll/Holy Cross Cathedral, Orleans, France) Bayer CD-100004 (OLF)
MESSIAEN: The Children of God, fr La Nativité -Marie-Claire Alain (1977 Kuhn/Lucerne Cathedral, Switzerland) Erato CD-45470
MESSIAEN: The Angels, fr La Nativité -Erik Boström (1949 Marcussen/Oscar Church, Stockholm) Proprius CD-9009 (952-938-7745)
MESSIAEN: Jesus accepts suffering, fr La Nativité -Gillian Weir (1928 Frobenius/Århus Cathedral, Denmark) Priory CD-921
MESSIAEN: The Magi, fr La Nativité –Hans-Ola Ericsson (1987 Grönlund/Luleá Cathedral, Sweden) Bis CD-410
MESSIAEN: God among us, fr La Nativité -Olivier Latry (1868 Cavaillé-Coll/Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris) DG CD-471480