American Record Guide

Felipe Gorriti (1839-96) was born in Navarre in north-central Spain and spent most of his working life in the Basque Country. He is viewed as a transitional figure in Spanish music history, spanning the change from the baroque to French romanticism. Certainly the pieces heard in this recital are thoroughly romantic in style. They are very like the works of Lefebure-Wely (1817-69), the stylish Paris contemporary of Franck. They were composed to be played on an 18th Century Spanish organ with divided manuals and few pedal keys.
Esteban Elizondo Iriarte plays this program on the 2-manual, 25-stop organ by an unknown 18th Century builder in the Convent Church of St Dominic in Pamplona. Famous for its running of the bulls, Pamplona is in Navarre, 40 miles due south of Biarritz, France.
I reviewed a recording by Elizondo playing organ pieces by Guridi in the last issue. This program like that one is superbly played. His registration and phrasing are excellent. This release enlarges our understanding of 19th Century Spanish organ music considerably.
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