Sei Pezzetti (Six Pieces)

Oreste Ravanello (August 25, 1871 in Venice – July 2, 1938 in Padua), was an Italian composer and organist. He studied organ and composition at the Liceo Musicale in Venice before he was appointed organist of the San Marco Cathedral at the age of seventeen. He also taught at the (now Benedetto Marcello) Conservatory of Music in Venice and, then, became director of Instituto Musicale in Padua (now the "Cesare Pollini" Conservatory of Music). A famous recitalist who was renowned for his improvisations, today he is mostly forgotten except for a few of his organ compositions.

Back in the days when I did a lot of recital playing, I often played his "Tre Pezzi per Grand Organo, Op. 40."

The actual title of this collection is "Sei Pezzetti Facili" for organ or harmonium. There is no opus number, but the work was published circa 1921 by Zanibon. While it is true that the works are not monumentally demanding, I found a lot "in the music" when I did these yesterday afternoon. My approach is deliberately "unusual," but I hope that I did not destroy the musical content.

Interludio: 0:00
Preludio a Canone in modo dorico 1:50
Offertorio 3:50
Elevazione 6:35
Pastorale 9:30
Finale 11:30