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Erland Hildén plays the Schnitger and Willis organs in Örgryte, Sweden
Erland Hildén, who has composed all the music of this CD, is since 1998 the organist and choirmaster of Örgryte New Church, Gothenburg. Previously he was assistant cathedral organist in Karlstad (1991-98). He passed his Higher Diploma concert in Professor Hans-Ola Ericson's organ class in 2008. Previous exams are as Choir Pedagogue, 2001 (Gothenburg), Higher organist examination, 1991 (Stockholm), Music teacher, 1987 (Arvika) and Lower cantor exam, 1986 (Gothenburg). He has also studied in composition and counterpoint with Lars-Erik Rosell and Hans Eklund (Stockholm Royal Academy of Music). Originally a pianist, Erland did not start playing the organ until the age of 20; this choice due to a disconcerting meeting with the late Karl-Erik Welin, avant-garde organist and connoisseur of the art of living, later Erland's mentor and friend. Erland has also received master-class teaching from Kevin Boyer, Harald Vogel, Hans Fagius, Jon Laukvik and Bernard Haas. Erland regularly gives organ concerts in Sweden and abroad, he has been broadcast in radio and television and has so far had three organ CDs recorded. This one is, however, the first one containing only his own compositions. Erland tends to look for inspiration in his home region, the Province of Värmland, where he also is the owner of a farm with its own pipe organ. He has composed some 50 opus for varying settings even if organ music has been central.
"The title indicates contrasts and these two moods are, of course, apparent in, say, the euphoric track 2 and the clearly meditative track 3. Sometimes, however, you can actually meditate into a euphoric feeling, something I personally experience in track 5, hence its title. Naturally it is up to you my dear listener to feel as you like! But as far as I am concerned these emotions run through the whole of the CD and I love them. To submit to meditation and/or euphoria is to have an affirmative outlook on life. Somebody described my music as minimalistic combined with development. There are also influences from the symphonic rock music of the 1970s that my brother Christer exposed me to in my early teens. Thank you, dear brother! Both organs of Örgryte New Church used for the present CD recording are unique instruments. The Willis organ in the western gallery, dating from 1871, is still in its original condition while most other organs made by "father Willis" and still in use are grossly "modernised". The North German Baroque organ, inaugurated in Örgryte in 1999, is the result of a visionary research project at the University of Gothenburg to build a replica of a great Hanseatic organ originally constructed by Arp Schnitger, one of the leading organ builders of the early Baroque period. This organ is tuned in meantone, a completely different old-fashioned way of tuning an instrument resulting in the major third becoming completely pure. In order to make it possible to play in several keys this organ offers extra tangents; thus E-flat, D-sharp, A-flat and G-sharp each have a separate tangent."
(Erland Hildén)
TRACK LIST
Erland Hildén
1. GĹNGLĹT MED SKRUV
2. FANTASIA
3. VOCALISE
4. DANCE OF JOY
5. EUPHORIC MEDITATION
ORGAN SYMPHONY
6. 1. SCHERZO
7. II. MEDITATION
8. III. OSTINATO
9. IV. INVOCATIONS
10. V. TOCCATA
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