American Record Guide 9-10 2019

Salome’s Dance

Robert Parkins

Loft Recordings
LRCD-1147 – 75 minutes

Another welcome recording of the restored 1932 Aeolian organ in the Duke University Chapel (S/O 2016). In the 1980’s this organ was in danger of disappearing entirely; but after an outpouring of protest, it was saved and its 4-manuals and 122-ranks were restored in 2008 by Foley-Baker, Inc. This was fortunate, as it is one of the outstanding examples of an American symphonic organ built by a firm other than EM Skinner (with whom Aeolian merged in 1931 to become Aeolian-Skinner).

Parkins, University Organist and Professor of Music at Duke, presents a program that shows off all the capabilities of this wonderful instrument. There is plenty of color and power, heard in the resonant acoustic of the Duke Chapel. The program begins and ends with works from the late German romantic tradition, which surround an interesting variety of American compositions from the early 20^th Century. Many of these composers were influenced by or studied with German teachers and wrote music that was “unabashedly tonal and user-friendly.”

Parkins delivers a wholly satisfying performance of one of the more popular of Reger’s organ works. The Toccata’s rhetorical gestures are coherent and exciting, and the fugue’s gradual accelerando and crescendo are perfectly paced. This transcription of the Strauss pieces works beautifully on this organ. My only quibble is that the Dance, owing to the nature of the organ, lacks the accent, tension, and bite of the original.

I find the American pieces, mostly unknown, to be the most engaging. The atmospheric slow movements by Price and Ward, and Locklair’s H.H.L. allow Parkins to use the endless variety sounds on this wonderful organ. Hailstork’s fine toccata-romp on Veni Emmanuel should be better known among organists.

His playing is expressive, musical, technically accomplished, uses the instrument superbly, and has a fine ear for color—something many organists would do well to emulate. Loft has beautifully captured the resonant acoustic of the chapel.

I was in school with Bob at CCM in the 1960s, and it has given me great pleasure to hear and enjoy this fine recording, Excellent notes by the performer on the music with specification and photos.

Delcamp