Here’s yet another recording of an organ that the jacket notes claim to be one of the world’s largest. This time the declaimer is necessary, for the 20,142 pipe instrument is registered and recorded in such an intelligent manner that you come away more aware of its vast array of tonal colors and clarity rather than its gargantuan size. Organist Scott Dettra also has fashioned an interesting and cohesive program. He puts the Hymn d’Orgue: “Veni Creator” by Nicholas de Grigny near the beginning of his recital and chooses to end with Duruflé’s mighty Prelude, Adagio, and Choral Variations on the theme “Veni Creator”. Since both works use the plainsong hymn, the listener gets a sense of completion on hearing the final movement of the more modern work. To make the tie even stronger, Dettra has the original chants sung by the men’s voices of Fuma Sacra between the variations of both pieces, a good idea that really works. In between the two “Veni Creator” compositions, he presents another major Duruflé work, as well as colorful compositions by Honegger and Vierne. The complex fugue in Duruflé’s homage to the memory of composer Jehan Alain, who was killed in World War II, is played with finesse and flair, and the recording is absolutely clean and clear. This is a very fine recording of singular repertoire.
