Organ Fantasies -Organista Kostantin Volostnov

The Friends of Music of Castellana Grotte (Bari) are continuing their program of the 5th Traveling Organ Recital Series, with support from the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Tourism and funding from the Puglia Region’s Revolving Fund. The featured performer will be the Russian organist **Kostantin Volostnov**, in a concert entitled **“Fantasies for Organ.”**

This title aptly reflects a historical journey through a succession of composers, beginning with **J. P. Sweelinck**, the great Flemish organist of the sixteenth century. His *Echo Fantasia* highlights the rich tonal possibilities of Dutch instruments.

This will be followed by **F. Tunder’s** Chorale Fantasia, *“Come, Holy Spirit, Lord God.”* Tunder, who lived in the mid-seventeenth century and served as organist in Lübeck, was a forerunner of the great **J. S. Bach**.

A *Fantasia and Fugue in C minor* by Bach will also be performed—a remarkable composition from the period of his stay in Weimar.

Even **W. A. Mozart**, despite his relatively small output, wrote several fantasias for small instruments operated by clockwork mechanisms. The fantasia included in this program was commissioned for a wax museum that possessed a small, poorly made instrument.

The program concludes with **F. Liszt’s** grand *Fantasia on the Chorale “Ad nos salutarem undam,”* dedicated to the composer Meyerbeer. It was first performed in Merseburg Cathedral in 1852. The great Liszt, an exceptional pianist, also made a transcription of the work for piano four hands.

The piece is divided into three sections: the first opens with the calm theme of the chorale; the second is an Adagio that develops the various themes; and the third is a fugue recapitulating the preceding sections, ending in a powerful and emotionally charged coda.

**The concert will take place at the Basilica of Saints Cosmas and Damian in Alberobello on Sunday, November 22, at 7:30 p.m.**

**A great event celebrating the patron saint of music, Saint Cecilia.**