Kay Johannsen The Great Wall

“The Great Wall” developed out of an improvisation, a homage to the Great Wall of China. Two motifs dominate in the work, which requires a three-manual organ: a two-measure ostinato in the pedal, and an oriental-sounding melody found on the manuals, in the basic shape and in the variations. The music leads seamlessly from an atmospheric picture into a rhythmically-driven crescendo, is interrupted by a “storm” fantasy before ending, after a second upsurge, in a radiant fortissimo. The dynamics and articulation are given very precisely in the score. The registration markings relate to the four-manual Mühleisen organ in the Stiftskirche Stuttgart, and are intended as a guide for performance. This thrilling work, which recalls Ravel’s “Bolero” at certain moments, communicates directly with a wide range of audiences.