Franck: Prelude, Fugue and Variations; Fantasy in A; Cantabile; Piece Heroique; Pastorale; Final; Dupre: Variations on a Noel David Schrader, organ (Cedille).
In these late Romantic organ works of Cesar Franck, David Schrader finds a perfect balance between the devout composer’s religious solemnity and the warm, glowing solace of his music, aided by the lean, refined sound of the Jaeckel organ in Duluth, Minn. Though the Fantasy in A is less massive than in some other readings, the Piece Heroique and the Final have no lack of sonorous heft and excitement. The thoughtful solemnity of the Prelude, Fugue and Fantasy is neatly conveyed and the lyrical Cantabile and Pastorale are given affectionate yet dry-eyed readings. Dupre’s virtuosic Variations with its intriguing, sometimes bizarre registrations makes an offbeat encore. The recording is up to Cedille’s usual high standards.
