Phantasy on the "Avondzang"

" k wil U, o God, mijn dank betalen"

Some time ago I uploaded a Dutch piece dedicated to Feike Asma (1912-1984), perhaps Hollands most famous organist.
This time a piece by Asma himself.

Asma composed many pieces during his lifetime; many of them on psalm and hymn melodies.

Although he gave almost daily concerts with works by all major composers, he was and is most loved for his own organ compositions and improvisations.

Asma playing Asma was always the final concert piece that the public was waiting for.

His style was very personal. His bigger works are in a very romantic idiom, swarming with dominant seventh chords, moll-dur transmutations, modulations, big volume differences etc. expanding on the composition techniques of Jan Zwart, ending with the choral theme on the full organ. The tremulant is heavily used.
The recording is an example of that.

Asma was first and foremost a church organist. He was happiest when playing for a big congregation in the typical Dutch reformed unrythmical whole note style.
He hated the way the church music changed from 1960 on.

His works are still very popular among a group of organists for whom he is THE organist. They are still widely in print.

Asma was unique.
Personally I am not fond of his style, but it can not be denied that there is grandeur in it and once, hearing Asma improvise after a service it really gave me goosebumps.
He DID play from the heart.

When the organ in Maassluis came free, the cream of Dutch organists had applied for the position.
Asma just called up and got the job, hands down and no selection, much to the dismay of many professionals who toured internationally.

When Feike died, the church appointed one of his pupils. He was no match for the master, but at least he could play more like him than most.