Contrasts

Bach - Buxtehude
Hämeenniemi - Kaipainen
Corduroy - Allowed
Contrasts - Contrasts
Works for organ
Kari Vuola
The organ of the Naantali monastery church
Kari Vuola's new album Contrasts contains both new and old, domestic and foreign organ music. You will hear works from the old masters Bach and Buxtehude as well as contemporary domestic composers Eero Hämeenniemi, Jouni Kaipainen, Olli Kortekankaa and Aulis Sallis.
• The Danish-German Dieterich Buxtehude (ca. 1637-1707) managed to combine the Italian and North German baroque styles in a unique way. Both Praeludium in E major (BuxWV 141) and Praeludium in F sharp minor (BuxWV 146) are among Buxtehude's broadest and finest preludes.
• Chaconne per organo, which can be heard on Aulis Salline's (b. 1935) album, is his only organ piece.
• Eero Hämeenniemi (b. 1951) writes about the Passacaglia he composed: "The Passacaglia for organ follows the traditional form of its name quite faithfully. The bass line repeated seventeen times without change is always accompanied by new harmonies and countersounds. [...] It has been a great experience to sit at the organ improvising and looking for timbres, timbres and harmonies suitable for that noble instrument."
• Prelude and fugue in A major (BWV 536) and Prelude and fugue in A minor (BWV 543), composed by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), are among Bach's most played free organ compositions.
• Jouni Kaipainen's (b. 1956) piece Reunion Confirmed is his first organ composition.
Olli Kortekankaan's (b. 1955) Ciaccona was premiered on the main organ of the Tampere Cathedral, played by Kari Vuola, on April 16, 2010 (Tampere Biennale). The composer comments on his work as follows: "The Ciaccona dedicated to Kari Vuola is the newest addition to my series of organ works, which has gradually grown into an important part of my production."