Fantasia sopra Salve Regina (2016)

Carlotta Ferrari (b. 1975) — Fantasia sopra Salve Regina (2016) for organ

Fantasia sopra “Salve Regina” (2016) was written for the German organist Hartwig Barte-Hansen for premiere at St. Bartholomäus Church in Wilster, Germany. The church contains both the large “Bach Organ” and the smaller “Mary’s Organ.” The music is based entirely on the familiar plainchant melody. The introduction begins with solemn music, which returns throughout as a refrain. After some contrapuntal elaboration of the chant melody, it is presented in a lush passacaglia (a musical form involving a repeating series of notes in the bass/pedals) followed by several canons at the octave. After a final return to the grand music of the opening, the fantasia ends serenely, with a quiet evocation of Mary as the Queen of Heaven.

Carlotta Ferrari (b. 1975) is an Italian composer. Educated at the Conservatory in Milan, she has composed in many genres, developing a personal language that is concerned with the blend of past and present. Her compositions have been performed frequently around the world. Ferrari’s music appears on several CD recordings, including four all-Ferrari organ CDs: three recorded by Carson Cooman (2014/16) and another by Peter Clark (2015). She is currently the chair of music composition at Hebei Normal University in Shijiazhuang, China.