Celtic Impressions is a new recording of twentieth-century organ music performed by Dr Gayle Martin of Mount Allison University. Performing on a Casavant Frères 1965 electro-pneumatic pipe organ in the university chapel, Gayle Martin brings a passionately enthusiastic approach to the interpretation of two Canadian works which feature prominently on this CD. The longest work on the programme is Celtic Impressions, a four movement piece written in 2003 for Ms Martin by the Edmonton composer Jacobus Kloppers. Using very sophisticated contrapuntal techniques, Kloppers was able to weave many Scottish folk melodies into a contemporary harmonic language using the entire range of expressive possibilities of the modern organ. Graham Hunter is represented by an extended set of variations on Pop Goes the Weasel, a piece that is all the more interesting for the contrast between the simplicity of the original theme and the intricacy of its subsequent treatment. The two non-Canadian works are Carillon and Pageant by Leo Sowerby, both of which are distinguished by highly idiosyncratic virtuosic writing that is performed admirably by the extremely talented Ms Martin.

JACOBUS KLOPPERS

1-4. Celtic Impressions

LEO SOWERBY

5. Carillon

LEO SOWERBY

6. Pageant

GRAHAM HUNTER

7. Variations on ‘Pop goes the weasel’