»Cantilena« improvisation for organ. Free download!!

[Frederik Magle]

I improvised this piece (freely) during the recording session of the CD »Kosmos« on may 11th, 2003 on the organ in the Grand Hall of the Main Lodge of Free Masons in Copenhagen.
The organ has 2 manuals and pedal and a total of 20 voices. The Cantilena has subsequently been written down.

Click here to download »Cantilena« - 4.3 MB, 128 kbps MP3 (© Frederik Magle)

There is also a super high-quality 320 kbps version available exclusively to members of this forum!
(as always, registering a username is free and easy - just click on Register New User to get started)

To download the high-quality MP3, click on this link (login first)
»Cantilena« is also available on the CD »Kosmos«

Comments are most welcomed! Enjoy!

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For the organists and other people interested in pipe organs, here are the specifications of the organ:

Great Organ (Manual I)

Quintatøn 16'
Principal 8'
Fløjte 8'
Oktav 4'
Oktav 2'
Mixtur
Tuba 8'
Clairon 4'

Swell Organ (Manual II)

Violinprincipal 8'
Dobbeltfløjte 8'
Fugara 8'
Vox Celeste 8'
Gedakt 8'
Quintatøn 4'
Gemshorn 2'
Scharff
Clarinet 8'

Pedal Organ

Subbas 16'
Principal 8'
Basun 16'

Electro-Pneumatic action, full set of couplers (including sub- and super)
Build by Starup & Son (Denmark), 1928


»Cantilena« for pipe organ is copyright © Frederik Magle and may not be altered or redistributed in any way without express permission. You are allowed to link freely to this page. You are not allowed to link directly to the MP3 file (hotlinking) without clearly stating the copyright and linking to this site as well. The music has been made available for free download on this site with the consent of the copyright holders and in accordance with Danish and international copyright law.

[corno]

hmm... someone seems to have been watching "The Lord of The Rings"... - my first "impression" of this improvisation

[Pamadu]

mmmmmmm. think you told me privately about this piece.???
what lovely Open Diapasons this Organ Has.!!! "The Art of Improvisation".Can it be Learned or is a person born with it.???
First Impression.."Very Haunting"...Get it down in PDF and Published etc. and let the Organists start using it.!!!!..
Always a Great Demand for Short Pieces like this,for "Filling in The Gaps" in Liturgical Services or just a Nice Short Recital Piece.
Improvisation always gets Top Marks with Me.Paul/pamadu

[Pamadu]

would love to use this & have it in,one of the last books
of my "liturgical series" food for thought.????
apart from my own compositions a few others are contributors
and will do well out of it...but this piece,is great & please do not let too much "dust" gather on Manuscript pamadu/Paul.

[Frederik Magle]

Thanks for the replies!
Thomas: yeah, I can see that there could be a resemblance in the "atmosphere" of the piece, but I don't think there is any thematical overlap.
Paul: glad you like it! As soon as I have finished the now (in)fameous "deadline" I will complete writing down the Cantilena!

[Frederik Magle]

Update: The "standard" quality version of Cantilena can now be downloaded by guests as well as members of this forum. The 256 kbps version - formerly only available to "officers" (members with 25+ posts) - can now be downloaded by all members.

[stevecbournias]

Dear Frederik:
I am stunned!
Your musical sense as exibited in this cute but ever serious meaningful artistic expression of the very depths of your being have left me in another realm. I could have sworn i was hearing an old familiar sound; that of the great late Virgil Fox who i was privileleged to have seen and heard numerous times. Your expressions of human feeling transmitted to the pipes of the organ that you were able to make speak an emotion that touched the heart, the mind, the inner person left me drained emotionally in a good way because I was able to tune in as Virgil liked to say. You are a blessed one. The powers of creation that made the kosmos are the very powers that have imparted to humankind the talents to do what you are doing. I am greatly impressed with how you are generously giving your talents to your fellow humans to uplift their spirits in a world that is oh so complex. Your contribution is appreciated and your tender years only add to the intrigue of what a miracle you really are.

[Frederik Magle]

Thank you so much for that wonderful feedback Steve. I'm overwhelmed but very happy and grateful that you feel that way about my music.

Many kind regards
Frederik

[Gareth]

hmm... someone seems to have been watching "The Lord of The Rings"... - my first "impression" of this improvisation

Yeah, you have hit a few notes that sound like Lord Of The Rings and the chord progressions in there...also sounds like some other songs I know all mixed into one.

Thats going on my favourite songs list!

Love the broad implication....well done Frederic
Gareth.

[Frederik Magle]

Thanks Gareth, really appreciate your feedback - and glad you like it!

Actually, I don't think it resembles so much the »Lord of the rings« score as perhaps both the »Cantilena« and the »Lord of the Rings« film music score draws inspiration from... well, I'm not sure exactly where... (it was not something I considered before, during or even after making the improvisation) but there is perhaps some inspiration from old nordic folk music, medieval music, Irish music (the use of the flute voices) or maybe Scottish highland music... hmmmm.... your guess is as good as mine

[susangio]

Dear Frederik:
I am stunned!
Your musical sense as exibited in this cute but ever serious meaningful artistic expression of the very depths of your being have left me in another realm. I could have sworn i was hearing an old familiar sound; that of the great late Virgil Fox who i was privileleged to have seen and heard numerous times. Your expressions of human feeling transmitted to the pipes of the organ that you were able to make speak an emotion that touched the heart, the mind, the inner person left me drained emotionally in a good way because I was able to tune in as Virgil liked to say. You are a blessed one. The powers of creation that made the kosmos are the very powers that have imparted to humankind the talents to do what you are doing. I am greatly impressed with how you are generously giving your talents to your fellow humans to uplift their spirits in a world that is oh so complex. Your contribution is appreciated and your tender years only add to the intrigue of what a miracle you really are.

Thank you for saying So Well! what I-and others it seems-experience listening to all this beautiful music (except I wouldn't call Cantilena cute). Frederik, I hope you could hear between the lines how "we" (those who have 'discovered' you) have hunger for beautiful and unique expressions of the soul. A toast to your continued good health and well-fed spirit to drink of life and share the beauty.

[methodistgirl]

I wonder if you have the sheet music for Cantilena. I would like to try it
on my church's organ. It's a beautiful piece.
judy tooley

[Frederik Magle]

Thank you so much for the kind words, Susanne and Judy.

I will be releasing the score for the Cantilena, hopefully this year, so stay tuned

Kind regards,
Frederik

[ePostings]

Thank you very much for all the downloads, Frederik Magle...

[Frederik Magle]

You're welcome, ePostings!