Jacques van Oortmerssen, organist

Musica Organi

Westminster Presbyterian Church, Knoxville, Tennessee

Thursday, February 26, 2004, 8:00 p.m.


Passacaglia in c, BWV 582 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr, BWV 662 J. S. Bach
Adagio and Allegro in f, KV 594, trans. J. v. Oortmerssen Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Intermission

Sonata in d, op. 65, no. 6 Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (1809-1847)
    Chorale
    Andante sostenuto
    Allegro molto
    Fugue: Sostenuto e legato
    Finale: Andante

From Five Chorale Preludes Jacques van Oortmerssen
    Psalm 72
    Psalm 77
    Die Sünden sind vergeben
Toccata in F, BWV 540 J. S. Bach

 



Jacques van Oortmerssen studied organ with André Verwoerd and piano with Elly Salomé at the Conservatory of Music in Rotterdam. He continued his organ studies with Marie-Claire Alain in Paris and was awarded the "Prix d'Excellence" in 1976.

Since 1979 he has been Professor of Organ at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, where his organ class attracts students from many different countries. In 1982 he succeeded Gustav Leonhardt as Organiste Titulaire of the Waalse Kerk in Amsterdam.

In addition to being a visiting professor at the University of Göteborg, the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Lyon, and the GOArt organ center, he has visited conservatories and universities worldwide as a guest teacher. For the academic year 1993-94 he became Betts Fellow in Organ Studies at Oxford University.

As a recitalist he has appeared in many international festivals, such as the BBC Proms. His interpretations of Bach and early music have brought him widespread acclaim. He is also active as a conductor, composer, and organ consultant.

Jacques van Oortmerssen has made many recordings, including the complete organ works of Brahms and C. P. E. Bach. In 1995 he began recording the complete organ works by J. S. Bach on the most important historical organs in Europe for Challenge Classics; the seventh volume in the series was recently released.


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