Eugenio Maria Fagiani Pusztaszabolcs Suite op. 97

Title:
Eugenio Maria Fagiani Pusztaszabolcs Suite op. 97

Description:
Played by the composer during his concert on the J. W. Walker Organ of the St. Paul's Methodist Church, for the "Harmony the Hills Concert Series" on October 9th 2009. Assistant: Dr. Wm. Jean Randall, Director of Music of St. Paul's Methodist Church, Rochester (MI). This suite was commissioned by the Organ Festival held by the Hungarian city of Pusztaszabolcs. It includes four pages that refer to two different sources: traditional Hungarian themes (which I could get to know thanks to a wide selection that the Rev. Baltàsi Nàndor the parish priest of the city, but also an organist himself and a great Arts lover- provided me) and extracts from the the Canticles Tavaszi szél (Springtime Wind) is a well known popular song about Love, which invites the Lover to go and meet his Beloved one. I linked this text to the Canticles 1,7 passage, Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions? The second movement, Röpülj páva, röpülj (Fly peacock, fly) is the slow part of the Suite and puts into music the melancholy text of the song. It talks about imprisonment and the search for freedom, and can be paraphrased by the Canticles 3, 1-2 passage, By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. The short dance Még azt mondják (Theres a say) expounds, through the Hungarian music theme, the Canticles 7,1 passage, How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince's daughter! the joints of thy thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman. The final rondo Isten hazánkért (Pray for Hungary) presents a series of variations on the music theme with the form of a joyful dance. Joy comes from a solid faith. This last movement is linked to the Canticles 8, 6-7 extract, Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned. Edited by Edizioni Carrara EC 5122

Author:
EMFagiani

Tags:
Pusztaszabolcs, Suite, op., 97, Organ, Eugenio, Maria, Fagiani,