Bruckner: Symphony No. 9 In D Minor; Transcription For Organ By Eberhard Klotz (CD)

Release Date: 08/06/21

Bruckner's Symphony No. 9 is one of the profound Romantic masterpieces, performed here in a new organ transcription.

Why organ transcriptions of Bruckner's symphonies?

In the 19th century, and well into the 20th century, organ transcriptions served primarily to make a usually new, large orchestral work known to a wide audience. And smaller towns in particular did not have their own orchestra concerts. The local organist was the one to perform these new works on the organ, making them accessible to the musically interested public.

Today, concerts with organ transcriptions have a completely different significance. Above all, they revive the tradition of the organ concerts of the 19th century, in which arrangements always played an important role.

A performance of Bruckner's symphonies on the organ is of course also an exciting musical experience. After all, how does a single interpreter succeed in performing a symphony, which is otherwise played by a large symphony orchestra, on his instrument alone? On the instrument that Bruckner particularly loved and from whose sonorities he developed all his symphonies. It is a well-known fact that Bruckner always used themes for his symphonies in his ingenious organ improvisations.

Organist Eberhard Klotz has been living in Stuttgart, Germany, teaching music theory, and composition at the renowned Röhm Academy in Stuttgart. . For the Bruckner year 2024, 'Merseburger Verlag Kassel' is publishing all nine numbered symphonies of Bruckner in the organ arrangement by Eberhard Klotz as a complete edition.

Thilo Muster studied organ with Guy Bovet at the Basel Music Academy. After winning prizes at the 'Concours Suisse de l'Orgue' and the renowned 'Concours de Genève', he was titular organist of St. Pierre Cathedra l in Geneva for 11 years.
His love for musical projects that transcends borders inspires him to perform numerous music styles: from the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book to French composers, from Bruckner symphonies to Balkan music. Thilo Muster can be heard regularly at concerts and festivals throughout Europe.