Prelude Op.70 Nr.1

Marco Enrico Bossi (1861-1925) was an Italian organist, composer, improviser and pedagogue.

He received his musical training at the Liceo Musicale in Bologna and the Milan Conservatory.

In 1881, Bossi became director of music and organist at Como Cathedral. Nine years later, he was appointed as professor of organ and harmony at Naples Conservatory. In addition, he held directorships at conservatories in Venice (1895–1901), Bologna (1902–1911) and Rome (1916–1923), where he established and implemented the standards of organ studies that are still used in Italy today.

Throughout his career, Bossi made numerous international organ recital tours, which brought him in contact with well-known colleagues such as César Franck, Marcel Dupré, Alexandre Guilmant, Joseph Bonnet, Camille Saint-Saëns, Charles M. Courboin, and Karl Straube.

In November 1924, Bossi embarked on a recital tour to New York and Philadelphia, where he played the Wanamaker Organ. Bossi died unexpectedly at sea while returning from the United States on February 20, 1925, and was interred at Como.

He wrote (amongst a lot of other nice organ pieces) this very nice Prelude, the first part of his Opus 70.

A very nice composition (I think) which develops from subtle and smooth to some degree of majesty and then returns to smooth and soft.

NB: it starts very soft and has quite a dynamic range ...

Enjoy!
Marco