The Organ as Orchestra Substitute

A transcription of Vier letzte Lieder by Richard Strauss.

The organ is by its nature an ambiguous instrument; it is both an independent instrument in its own right and an imitation of an orchestra, and for centuries organists have played choral and orchestral transcriptions on the instrument.

On the basis of this historical tradition, the project will include the preparation of a transcript of Richard Strauss: Vier letzte Lieder for soprano, organ and obbligato violin.

Reflections on the transcription work itself and the whole background for the use of the organ as an orchestra substitute, together with a discussion of the possibilities of using the organ in interaction with other instruments, will be presented in the form of an article, and the project will conclude with a CD recording and concert performance at the Copenhagen International Organ Festival in November 2020.