Kees van Unen: Magno Intervallo

Kees van Unen: Magno Intervallo

The piece was specially written for the van Covelens organ (built in 1511 by Jan van Covelens; Alkmaar, Sint Laurenskerk).

"Magno Intervallo (literally large distance, referring also in this instance to time) embodies the sound of an old instrument which continues in our own time. Sometimes it seems to briefly evoke our own youth In the first instance the piece was a challenge: to give the sound of the van Covelens organ a place in contemporary music literature. The perceived limitations of the instrument proved to be the greatest catalyst in producing a sound world which is genuinely 'of our own time'. The composer acts merely as the 'producer' allowing the organ to speak for itself." (Kees van Unen)

Gabor Soos - organ
Alkmaar (NL), Grote Sint Laurenskerk

Van Covelens organ (1511)
a'=427 Hz
Mean tone temperament

Category:

Music

Tags:

• kees
• van
• unen
• magno
• intervallo
• covelens
• alkmaar
• gabor
• soos

[peteacher52]

Thanks for demonstrating the compass of this historic organ. I'd like to quote what William Leslie Sumner said about it in his book, The Organ; "This is quite a remarkable instrument for the date. It is evident that Dutch composers were expecting more flexibility from their instruments, were exploring to the full everything that organ builders could give them, and were seeking to use the organ in a more restrained and artistic manner." Piet Kee's 1979 recording on it is also interesting.