New double SACD album! Martin Schmeding plays music from the 1920s to the 1940s on the Oscar Walcker organ (1937) in the Hugo Körtzinger studio (Schnega)
Dr. phil. h.c. Oscar Walcker (1869 - 1948) was one of the most important German organ builders of the first half of the 20th century and designed numerous monumental instruments for cathedrals and concert halls. However, the Oscar Walcker organ on our new album "Opus 2576" was built in 1937 for the studio of the painter and sculptor Hugo Körtzinger and surprises with its tonal variety and unusual concept. In this video, performer Martin Schmeding describes the instrument, which was built in difficult times, and explains his choice of repertoire for our new double SACD.
https://www.aeolus-music.com/ae_en/All-Discs/AE11411-Opus-2576
Sigfrid Karg-Elert: "Appassionata" Op. 154,5 played on Oscar Walcker’s Op.2576 (1937) at Schnega (D)
It's time to introduce our next AE**US release! In March a new double SACD will be released, on which Prof. Martin Schmeding can be heard playing what is undoubtedly one of the most peculiar parlour organs in Germany: he presents Oscar Walcker's Opus 2576, an instrument which was built in 1937 in the studio of the painter and sculptor Hugo Körtzinger in Schnega (Wendland). Initially comprising only 6 ranks of pipes, the unit organ grew to an impressive 37 ranks and 63 stops by 1947! The history of the instrument's development is documented in an interesting correspondence of around 100 letters between the owner and company director Dr phil. h.c. Oscar Walcker.
The instrument was restored by the Scheffler company from Sieversdorf in 2015/16 after it had been unplayable for 50 years.
An exciting programme can be expected, played on a very versatile, appealing instrument.