Carson Cooman: Zephyr, Music For Organ Volume 8 – Erik Simmons

   in Choir & Organ (Sep, 2018)
With volumes 9 and 10 promised before the end of the year, this eighth instalment of Carson Cooman’s organ music from Erik Simmons is a veritable smorgasbord of recent works for secular and sacred settings dating from 2016-17. Of the larger works, the Ceremonial Suite boasts a rousing finale, Concerto III contains an exquisite exercise in Celtic-Appalachian fusion, and the Kennebunkport Suite is a becoming set of preludes on American hymn tunes. The miniature title track is appropriately airy, Pièce héroïque bracingly dramatic and muscular. Simmons’s wholly sympathetic playing finds colour, variety and texture aplenty on a superb American instrument. …