Album insights
Petr Eben, a prominent composer from the Czech Republic, was born on January 22, 1929, in Zamberk. Growing up in Cesky Krumlov, he learned piano and organ playing. After being imprisoned during the war, he studied piano and composition at the Prague Academy of Performing Arts. Eben later became a full professor of composition, focused on creating choral works and organ compositions. He also performed at various festivals worldwide.
One of Eben's creations, "A Festive Voluntary," was commissioned for the inauguration of the new Chichester Cathedral organ. This piece was meant to be celebratory, embodying a joyful and colorful expression of the instrument's tonal range. Drawing inspiration from the English Christmas carol "Good King Wenceslas," Eben incorporated this melody, aiming to reflect the joy within his variations.
Another composition, "Amen, es werde wahr," was commissioned for an organ volume by the Möseler-Verlag publisher. This piece contributed to a collective composition based on the nine stanzas of the Lord's Prayer set to music by various composers. Eben provided festive variations for the final stanza, emphasizing a powerful Lutheran text.
Eben's two Choral Fantasies, commissioned for the Prague Spring Festival, were to showcase technical prowess for participants in an organ competition. While fulfilling this technical directive, Eben remained true to the essence and content of each chorale he worked with.
Regarding improvisation in musical practices, Eben expressed disappointment in its decline except within organ playing. He highlighted the inherent joy and unique experience of improvising, emphasizing the need for harmonious imagination and instrumental proficiency.
In the composition domain, Eben was approached for new settings of traditional hymns for a comprehensive evangelical hymnal. Through his work, he provided fresh, modern accompaniments while ensuring a seamless integration with the original chorale melodies.
An important work of Eben, "Sonntagsmusik," composed during a time when interest in the organ was waning, unexpectedly gained popularity and became one of his most renowned pieces. Structured as an organ symphony, this creation encompassed various movements that were thematically connected through motifs and tonal explorations, carrying listeners through a profound musical journey.