David Fontanesi: Four Organ Sonatas – Andrea Albertin

In the Italian panorama, original organ works are not so frequently found. The contribution by David Fontanesi to this genre is a particularly welcome addition to the repertoire. It consists of four Sonatas, written in 2021. They exude originality, even whilst they remain firmly grounded in the principles of contrapuntal composition and tonal harmonies. They are characterized by the creation of fugue-like arrangements. Fontanesi frequently pays homage to the grand ‘father figure’ of this form, Bach, and occasionally reveals an affinity for the writing style of Reger.
Yet, these various fugues and sonata forms with counterpoint are far from mere stylistic exercises. Instead, they invariably aim to probe new harmonic landscapes, often marked by abrupt key transitions or layered contrapuntal structures. The compositions are punctuated with moments of striking inspiration, which are sure to delight listeners with unexpected twists and turns.