Epilog (Die sieben Worte des Erlöser am Kreuze), Op. 81, No. 5

WARNING!!! Do NOT turn up your volume too much!!!

Otto Valdemar Malling (1 June 1848 – 5 October 1915) was a Danish composer, from 1900 the cathedral organist in Copenhagen and from 1889 professor, then from 1899 Director of the Royal Danish Academy of Music, Copenhagen. He was born in Copenhagen, and became a pupil of Niels Gade and Johan Peter Emilius Hartmann. in his later career he mainly composed organ works and vocal music, but he also wrote a significant amount of orchestral music, as well a substantial cantata "Der hellige Land", and a symphony in D minor. He was a co-founder and vice-conductor of The Concert Society, Copenhagen (1874), supporting himself as organist at various Copenhagen churches. His scores of organ music brought Malling some reputation abroad, but after his death he was soon forgotten in his native country.

I had downloaded and planned to do this entire "set," but to be honest, I had forgotten all about them until yesterday. I couldn't do them all in such short time, but glad I did this one.

At the start of the work Malling gives verses from the 27th chapter St. Matthew's Passion Gospel: 21, " Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent..."

The music portrays the music to perfection, from the bleak, hopelessness of impending death, to the violent shattering when the veil of the temple is torn from top to bottom, and the rocks explode and break open, followed by a terrifying scrambling for safety - a safety which can not be found...

This piece is full of fear and inner turmoil, and I offer it to those who are troubled in spirit.

May the peace of Easter lighten your hearts and set our spirits free...

The score ("Epilog" starts on page 31) is attached below, as well as a photo of Otto Malling.

Easter uploads on the new Peterborough set coming on Sunday!