Recommended Classical Music CD »..exciting to listen to«
- Östgöta Correspondenten (Sweden)
»...He describes the whole experience as "psychedelic", but there is nothing hallucinatory about the quality of the results. Magle's music-making is highly creative, sometimes visionary«
»...The hour-long first disc flies past.«
»...The disc ends with a marvellous Widor-like toccata, 'Ascending', followed by the almost extra-terrestrial 'End of the Circle'.
It is this kind of intelligent variation which characterises the whole programme - dramatic window-rattlers alternating with pieces that are serenely uplifting or contemplative and others again that are mischievously eccentric or playful. To complement this there is also a steady flow of ideas, expertly implemented, within the improvisations themselves.
At no point in the two hours is the listener's attention given cause to flag; yet the music is often so emotionally intense that, between discs, a cup of tea at the very least is advisable.«
»...this is a double CD that no fan of original organ music should be without.«
»...you are alternately shaken and stirred by dark, DARK, images which fill you with dread«
»...He is a composer/player of great depth - his instrument is the organ which he dominates with the control of an ubermeister.«
»...A deep dark recording of absolutely top value.«
- Abi Rhodes' Zigzag Wanderings
»...'Realization'. Ethereal and beautiful...«
»...virtuosic and riveting...«
»...my own personal favorite is probably the very last track 'End of the Circle', which with the use throughout of a four-tone ostinato and the organ's distinctive, some would say slightly too effective, tremulant conjures up a strange, sick, fascinating, and ghostly universe, which one has to go to Ligeti's 1st etude for organ to find anything resembling.«
- Christian Præstholm, Associate prof. Royal Conservatory of Music, Aarhus
»...the results are something any aficionado of organ music will find delightful. His improvisations are varied, inventive and sonically powerful. The recording has excellent sound qualities as well.«
»...Highly recommended!«
- Gapplegate Classical-Modern Music Review