Fantasia canonica
Two from the British Isles
- Prelude on "Kingsfold"
- Postlude on "Hyfrydol"
Three Autumn Sketches after a Watercolor by Maria Willscher
- Herbststimmung (Autumn Mood)
- Herbstfarben (Autumn Colors)
- Sonnenuntergang (Sunset)
A St. Patrick Silhouette
St. Michael Antiphonies
Desert Marigold
Preludio del ricordo
Suite circulaire
- Praeludium
- Ricercare
- Toccata

As a composer, Carson Cooman (b. 1982) is so prolific and creative that I turned my attention away for only a short while, and this recording of some of his more recent organ works is already 8 volumes ahead of Volume 6 which I reviewed in November of 2017. As a matter of fact, Desert Marigold, the most recent composition on this CD is Cooman's Op. 1365. It's a highly serene and subdued piece which showcases a pipe organ's softer and warmer stops, and harmonically unfolds in an organic fashion, and quietly comes to rest naturally in the home key. And even more impressive is that one would think that at this rate all of his compositions would sound the same as if coming off an assembly line, but quite the opposite, they are all distinctively different and varied in style, expression and technique.

In contrast, the piece that follows titled Preludio del ricordo (Prelude of Remembrance) is a loud peroration utilizing the instrument to its fullest. The booklet notes written by Carson Cooman himself point out that "it was thought of in reference to the numerous lives lost during the COVID-19 pandemic." The Three Autumn Sketches, as their title suggests, are highly evocative as well as contemplative. And if you're the type of pipe organ enthusiast that likes to hear the instrument, as well as the organist, firing on all pistons, the Toccata from the Suite circulaire will make your day. It's new music from composers like this, torchbearers for the instrument, adding new sustenance to its 500 year old roots, that will keep the pipe organ tradition and culture alive and thriving. All of Cooman's music is tonal and accessible, but with plenty of unique and at times adventurous harmonic twists and turns, that raise the bar and instantly tweak your ears.

Organist since the age of 10, Erik Simmons has been the musician on this ongoing project since day one, and has consistently provided excellent, expressive playing, along with an intuitive use of each and every organ's registration options. The instrument you hear on this recording is the Organ of Propsteikirche St. Ludgerus, Billerbeck, Germany. It was completed in 2014 by the Orgelbau Fleiter organ firm, and boasts 72 stops across four manuals and pedal, from a 1' Mixtur to a 32' Contrebombarde. This recording was produced via the Hauptwerk system, which involves MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) and virtual software models of actual instruments. It would take too long to explain clearly how this works, but it is certainly worth your time to investigate it further. It's almost like being in two places at once, or rather like playing an instrument remotely in real-time. If you have a MIDI keyboard and computer at home, you could be playing this Propsteikirche St. Ludgerus pipe organ in your own living room, by simply downloading the required software. Quite fascinating! But instead of me talking about it here are links to Hauptwerk and Sonus Paradisi, where you will find all of the useful information and technical details that would allow you to play various organs around the world if you were inclined to do so.