Jan Hennig - Karg-Elert: Frühe Meisterwerke für Kunstharmonium (2019)

After completing his studies in piano and composition, Sigfrid Karg-Elert was the first to publish harmonium music. In early 1906 he received his own Kunstharmonium, and in March 1906 he gave it a first, enthusiastically recorded concert! From then on, Karg-Elert was passionately committed to making the art harp known in public music life. All of the recordings released on this CD come from this time and show how quickly Karg-Elert familiarized himself with the peculiarities of the Kunstharmoniums. With his compositions op. 26 he established a completely new, as yet unprecedented treatment of the instrument by combining composition and registration phenomenally. As a free-spirited artist, Karg-Elert was finally able to compose what he wanted and what he wanted, without resorting to historical guidelines or having to take into account the expectations of his publishers and colleagues. In their entirety, these works are so artfully crafted that they may count among the highlights of European music culture, which unfortunately still far too little attention. Although Karg-Elert later dedicated more to organ, piano, and chamber music for economic reasons, he was convinced of the genius of the instrument and remained true to it until his death. Jan Hennig studied conducting, piano and violoncello at the Musikhochschule Freiburg. He has worked as Kapellmeister, Studienleiter and solo reeditor at various German theaters and has worked there a wide repertoire of operas, operettas, musicals and ballets. For over two decades, his entire commitment has been dedicated to the art har- monium. His first CD release "The Art Harmonium - Homage to Victor Mustel" (Ambiente ACD-3013) was added to the 2012 Best of the German Record Critics' Award.