Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

It is said that the Duke Of Wellington was once asked if he thought of himself as Irish as he was born in Dublin. The great man was affronted and replied that the Lord Jesus had been born in a stable but that did not make him a horse. We use this anecdote to remind ourselves that although this pleasant recital was recorded in a cathedral this, on its own, does not make it a "Christian CD". The cathedral in question is Merseburg in Germany and the instrument is the magnificent 1866 Ladegast Organ which is contemporary with Schumann's music and was in fact the largest instrument in Germany at the time the music was written. Organ-spotters will enjoy reading more in the CD booklet; they will not need to be told that Thomas Trotter is a well-respected virtuoso, based in Birmingham and an active recording artist. The music on this disc represents the complete works of Robert Schumann suitable for the organ, namely "Four Sketches For Pedal Piano, opus 58", "Studies For Pedal Piano, Opus 56" and "Six Fugues On The Name BACH, Opus 60". Schumann composed within the Romantic tradition and those who enjoy this genre will find much to applaud. The playing is flawless, the recording is crystal clear, and at over an hour it is a generous release. But if you are looking for spiritual sustenance this is really only background music.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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