Apparatus Musico-Organisticus
Acis, 2023
9/10
Listen to Apparatus Musico-Organisticus
The organ wizard Kola Owolabi brings his agile fingers these pieces by Georg Muffat that unfold across 2 discs and were captured at the Christ Church Cathedral, Cincinnati.
“Toccata prima” opens the first half with the beaming organ emitting much warmth, and it isn’t long until “Toccata tertia” brings rich and fluid progressions of much melody. This portion finishes with the radiant delivery of “Toccata octava”, where the Italian style Fisk organ, Opus 148 is both cautious and adventurous.
The 2nd half leads with “Toccata nona”, where a distinct dreaminess guides the intimacy, and “Toccata duodecima et ultima” lands not long after with its soothing presence and reflective tone. The record exits with “Nova cyclopeias harmonica”, and it’s a colorful and gorgeous finish via the Richards, Fowkes & Co, Opus 24.
This is the debut recording of the two new instruments that were crafted by eminent craft organ builders and influenced by European baroque organs, and in Owolabi’s care they sure are put to profoundly precise use.
Travels well with: Herschel Garfein- The Layers; Michele Kennedy- Agave: In Her Hands