Album Review: Werke fur Orgel by Henry Purcell & Jean-Patrice Brosse
If you’re into classical music that feels like it’s straight outta a candlelit cathedral, this album’s for you. Werke fur Orgel (that’s German for “Organ Works”) is one of those records where you just sit back and let the sound wash over you. It’s got all the hallmarks of Henry Purcell’s genius—those lush baroque vibes—but performed with a modern touch by organist Jean-Patrice Brosse. Props to the team behind it too: Engineer Paul Vavasseur and Producer Eric Macleod clearly knew what they were doing when they hit record.
The album comes via Musica Prae Classica, a label outta Germany, which kinda makes sense given how much Germans love their organs. Seriously, if organs were a sport, they’d dominate the Olympics. There’s a whole bunch of tracks here, but two stuck out to me in particular: Trumpet Tune in C - "The Indian Queen" and Voluntary for the Organ d-moll. Let me tell ya why.
First up, Trumpet Tune in C - "The Indian Queen". Man, this one hits different. It starts off regal, like someone’s walking down a red carpet in slow motion, but then BAM—it shifts gears and gets all Da Capo on you. That trumpet-like melody? Unreal. It’s the kind of tune that makes you wanna grab your fanciest jacket and pretend you’re royalty for a bit. And honestly, isn’t that what good music should do? Transport you somewhere else entirely?
Then there’s Voluntary for the Organ d-moll. This track’s darker, moodier. Like, if the other tune was sipping tea at a royal banquet, this one’s sitting alone in a dimly lit room thinking about life. The way Brosse handles those low notes is just chef’s kiss. You can almost picture him hunched over the keys, really feeling every note. It’s haunting, but in the best possible way. Like watching an old black-and-white movie where everyone’s wearing capes.
What I dig most about this album is how unapologetically itself it is. There’s no flashy gimmicks or attempts to “modernize” Purcell’s work. It’s just pure, timeless organ music played with heart. Sure, some might call it boring, but hey, not everything has to slap to be worth listening to, right?
Random thought though—can we talk about how these track titles are basically essays? “Trumpet Tune in D - Air - Da Capo - Air - Da Capo”? Come on, guys, give us something snappier next time! But nah, jokes aside, this album’s a gem. If you’re ever stuck in traffic or need background noise while reading, toss this on. Your ears’ll thank you.
Final verdict? Solid 8/10. Would recommend pairing it with a glass of wine and zero distractions.
