For most organ lovers, the combination of organ and percussion will not be an everyday occurrence. Yet in his preface to the CD 'Music for organ and percussion', Jan Hage does not say a word too much when he states that 'the combination with percussion means an almost self-evident synthesis'.
Indeed, on this production released by the Orgelpark, the Verschueren organ and percussion form a perfect duo. Together with percussionist Tatiana Koleva, Jan Hage performs a programme full of contemporary compositions by William Bolcom, Wolfgang Rihm, Sofia Gubaidulina, Hans Koolmees and Jacob Ter Veldhuis.
Black Host by Bolcom is a composition in which musical, technical and emotional extremes meet. Light and classical music, anxiety, total panic, resignation, the Dies Irae and psalm 12 meet in a bizarre and sometimes grotesque-looking encounter.
In Siebengestalt, the organ and the tom-tom engage in a conversation that includes exploring dynamic limits to the limit.
Sofia Gubaidulina wrote a beautiful, impressive piece with Detto I. Clusters, static and virtuoso passages present themselves in a range of the most diverse timbres. Detto I eventually culminates in a grand, compelling finale.
With Events, Hans Koolmees has written a composition that focuses on the constant interaction between organist and percussionist. This results in an extremely exciting composition that seems to emerge at the moment suprême.

Ter Veldhuis' The shining city is a collage of existing audio material captured on tape, combined with instrumental music. The repeated fragments of text, combined with the percussion part create a kind of Bolero that culminates in a bizarre finale.
A surprising encore is Hage and Koleva's improvisation. Two well-attuned and well-matched musicians turn out to be excellent improvisers. The result is a beautiful piece of music in which balance, timing and joy of playing are the key words. The fairy-tale ending is phenomenal.
Clearly, this CD requires quite a bit of listening ability from the listener. Each piece is a musical world in itself that does not give in easily. One of the reasons why this CD is highly recommended even to less skilled listeners is because it features two top musicians who know their craft very well. To perform this, often complex music, you need to be of good stock! And that Hage and Koleva are far above this subject matter is beyond dispute. Nowhere as a listener did I feel that they had reached the limits of their ability. To perform such, sometimes extremely difficult music in such a way that there is actually plenty of room for it, commands deep respect. Despite the aforementioned praise for the listener, I do have a piece of listening advice: don't start with the entire CD right away, but listen to a piece every day. A possible order could be: track 6, 1, 5, 2, 3, 4.
[Source: Organ News]

Watch here an interview with Tatiana Koleva (percussion), Jan Hage (organ) and Johan Luijmes (of the Orgelpark) following the presentation of the new CD Music for organ and percussion on Thursday 9 September 2010 in the Orgelpark, during the Gaudeamus Music Week 2010.

Tatiana Koleva (percussion)
Jan Hage (organ)

Music by William Bolcom, Wolfgang Rihm, Sofia Gubaidulina, Hans Koolmees and Jacob Ter Veldhuis.