James Hicks is featured on Volume IX of the Nordic Journey series of recordings on the Pro Organo label (7290). Sub-titled “Music from Sweden," Volume IX features the large 3-manual 1913 Setterquist pipe organ in the gallery of Olaus Petri Church in Örebro, Sweden. The Setterquist organ was restored and enlarged in 2013 by the firm Åkerman & Lund.
The program includes major works from the late Romantic Nordic organ repertoire along with newly commissioned works from Nordic composers Gunnar Idenstam, Nils Lindberg, Fredrik Sixten, and Anders Börjesson.
In one of the non-commissioned works appearing on Volume IX, a concerto for two organs by Gunnar Thyrestam, Dr. Hicks is joined by the resident organist of Olaus Petri Church, Mats Bertilsson, using the Setterquist organ in the gallery, and the 1974 two-manual and pedal choir organ, built by Fredericksburg Orgelbyggeri of Hillerød, Denmark. Also collaborating with James Hicks in Nordic Journey Volume IX is soprano Helena Ek, in a new set of Swedish songs commissioned from famed composer Nils Lindberg.
Hicks began the project in 2008, and he has released either a double-CD album or a single-CD album in this series in every calendar year since the series’ inception. To date, the Nordic Journey series has spotlighted venues with noteworthy pipe organs in Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Iceland.
Nordic Journey Volume IX is on sale at ProOrgano.com and is available for worldwide digital streaming and download through Naxos.
Nordic Journey Volume IX was recorded on location in Örebro, Sweden on February 21 and 22, 2020. While on location in Örebro, James and Bonnie Hicks and producer Fred Hohman were hosted in the home of Mats Bertilsson and his spouse, where they enjoyed a sumptuous Swedish meal, complete with a traditional Swedish cake in honor of James’ birthday, which occurred during the Örebro recording visit.
For more details on Nordic Journey, Volume IX - Pro Organo 7290:
https://proorgano.com/product/nordic-journey-volume-ix-music-from-sweden-compact-disc-james-d-hicks/
Other recent recordings of interest:
Gloriae Dei Cantores Sings Rheinberger
