Aurora has released a CD in which Inger-Lise Ulsrud and Frida Fredrikke Waaler Wærvågen has recorded three works composed by Kjell Mørk Karlsen. I've listened to it.

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Kjell Mørk Karlsen was born in 1947, and is the son of musician Rolf Karlsen. Kjell has broad musical background and has a great work behind him also as a composer. It is the organ as his main instrument, and his compositions are mainly church music.

Uranienborg church towers in central Saabye Christense\ s "Urra-park", and inside we find an organ rebuilt by Kuhn Orgelbau in Switzerland. This organ is the site of the performance of two of the works on this CD. We're talking about Christus-Meditation - Opus 120, and Offenbarungsmeditationen - Opus 155

Both these works are Organ meditations, a music form that had a heyday around previous turn of century, but lost some of its relevance further into the twentieth century. Olivier Messiaen was one of the few who continued the music form, and later Kjell Mørk Karlsen.

It is very beautiful compositions, and Opus 120 is my favorite of the two orgelmeditasjonene. Meditative and warm atmosphere, but with large dynamic contrasts in strength and spirit. The musical language is modern but at the same time easily available.

Also the performance by Inger-Lise Ulsrudvann is outstanding. She has a very solid background, with education in Norway and Sweden. She also has a rich concert career, and teaches organ at the Academy of Music.

Between the two organ meditations Frida Fredrikke Waaler Wærvågen play a cello sonata. Very beautiful komposition, and a convincing great debut at solo recording. This cello sonata is recorded in Oslo Opera House.

As a whole this works very well on CD - the Cello Sonata makes an intermezzo between the two heavier organ meditations.

The sound on this release is superior. Good dynamics is always providing an extra dimension on recordings of church organ, and dynamics we get in abundance here. There is otherwise a transparent rendering, and a good balance between direct sounds and reflected sounds from this great church.

A very nice release with music by Kjell Mørk Karlsen on a CD that has special relevance in the week we have just started.

More information at Aurora.