Gunnar Idenstam

Gunnar Idenstam

1992 Ruffatti organ at Spivey Hall, Clayton State University, Morrow, Georgia

1992 Klais organ at Hallgrimskirkja, Reykjavik, Iceland

Gunnar Idenstam

…an introduction to the iconoclastic repertoire and intriguing personality of a multi-faceted Swedish virtuoso for whom ‘everything is organ music’.

Program Broadcast dates:

• Week of October 18, 2010

Links and Resources:

• Printable program listings

Interview Audio:

• Gunnar Idenstam comments on his beginnings, and the challenges of the pipe organ.
• Gunnar talks about his involvement with Swedish folk music and its impact on his playing and composition.
• Gunnar reflects on his relation to the dance

Michael Barone interviewed Gunnar Idenstam by ‘remote control’…Michael was in his production studio at Minnesota Public Radio in Saint Paul, MN, and Gunnar was in the Green Room at Spivey Hall of Clayton State College in Morrow, GA, where he was preparing for a concert. Thanks to audio engineers Cameron Wiley and Tommy Joe Anderson for facilitating this process.

Music played in the program

Hour 1

GUNNAR IDENSTAM: Cathedral Music Toccata II, Scherzo II, Dance II –Gunnar Idenstam (1992 Klais/Hallgrimskirkja, Reykjavik, Iceland) BIS Northern Lights 5018

J.S. BACH: Polonaise, from French Suite in e, BWV 817 –Gunnar Idenstam (1986 Klais/Köln Philharmonie, Köln, Germany) Pipedreams Archive recorded May 11, 2007

J.S. BACH: Minuet, from Anna Magdalena Notebook . TOMAS HANS HANSSON: Polska. J.S. BACH: Gavotte, from English Suite Number 3 in g, BWV 808 –Lisa Rydberg, violin; Gunnar Idenstam, harmonium. Gazell CD-1092

GUSTAV MAHLER: Revelge, from Des Knaben Wunderhorn –Håkan Hagegård, baritone; Gunnar Idenstam (1949 Marcussen/Oscarskyrkan, Stockholm, Sweden) Proprius PRCD-9040

GUNNAR IDENSTAM: 3 Swedish Folk Melodies: Serra; Gangar; Halling –Johan Hedin, nyckelharpa; Gunnar Idenstam (1973 Grönlunds/Teg’s Church, Umeå, Sweden) Caprice 21087

Filler –J.S. BACH: Allemande, from French Suite in G, BWV 816, Köln Philharmonie (see above)

Hour 2

GUNNAR IDENSTAM: 3 Improvisations on Folk Themes: Jämtländks Brudmarsch; Poem; Näckens Polska –Gunnar Idenstam (1960 Marcussen/St. Matthew Church, Stockholm, Sweden) LCM CD-109

J.S. BACH: Wachet auf, from Schübler Chorales, BWV 645 –Lisa Rydberg, violin; Gunnar Idenstam, harmonium. Gazell CD-1092

CLAUDE-MICHEL SCHÖNBERG: I dreamed a dream, from Les Misérables –Håkan Hagegård, baritone; Gunnar Idenstam (1949 Marcussen/Oscarskyrkan, Stockholm, Sweden) Proprius PRCD-9040

GUNNAR IDENSTAM: Norsk Brudmarsch –Anders Paulsson, saxophone; Gunnar Idenstam, organ. Atrium 22110

FRANZ LISZT (after Rossini): Cujus animam. PETR EBEN: Invocation I –Christian Lindberg, trombone; Gunnar Idenstam (1949 Marcussen/Oscarskyrkan, Stockholm, Sweden) BIS-CD-488

TRADITIONAL: Staffan Ballad –St. Jacobs Chamber Choir, Gary Graden, conductor; Gunnar Idenstam (1976 Marcussen/Sankt Jacobs kyrka, Stockholm, Sweden) BIS Northern Lights 5031

BILL WHELAN (arranged by Gunnar Idenstam): Riverdance –Gunnar Idenstam (1992 Ruffatti/Spivey Hall, Clayton State University, Morrow, GA) Pipedreams Archive recorded January 23, 2010

Filler –GUNNAR IDENSTAM: Dance II, from Cathedral Music (see above)

 

Gunnar Idemstam makes a pair of rare recital appearances in the United States this fall, performing in Minneapolis, October 29, and Philadelphia, November 6.