Rossini Paraphrase No. 3 (Bolero; from Tancredi)

Andreas Willscher (b. 1955) — Rossini Paraphrase No. 3 (Bolero; from Tancredi) (2011) for organ

“Three Paraphrases on Themes of G. Rossini” (2011) is a set of contemporary fantasies on musical themes by the Italian composer Gioachino Rossini (1792–1868). The first movement, “Alla marcia,” uses the theme of the “Cujus animam” from “Stabat mater.” The second, “Scherzando,” uses the very familiar theme of the fast section of the overture to the opera “William Tell.” The theme of the third paraphrase, “Bolero,” comes from the opera “Tancredi.”

German composer and organist Andreas Willscher (b. 1955) studied composition, theory, and organ in his native Hamburg. In 1971 he was appointed organist of the St. Francis Church in Hamburg and in 2000 at the church of St. Joseph-Wandsbek. In addition, he has been keyboardist for several jazz and rock ensembles. Willscher has received many awards and commissions for his compositions, which range widely in form: from symphonic music and oratorios to cabaret and rock scores. His organ works are very diverse, ranging from large-scale post-tonal pieces to some that blend elements of the traditional repertoire with contemporary jazz and pop influences. In addition to his own composition and performing activities, Willscher has published a number of literary and scientific articles in journals and encyclopedias and has been very active in collecting and preserving lost and forgotten music from earlier eras. In 2015, in honor of his 60th birthday and life’s work as a musician, he was awarded the Johann Wenzel Stamitz Prize from the Arts Guild of Esslingen.