Ascension – A New Organ Composition
I'm delighted to introduce Ascension, my latest composition for organ, written and recorded using Piotr Grabowski's Hauptwerk sample set of the organ at St. Margaret's Church in Munich, Germany.
The piece actually began life as a work for organ and orchestra. However, as I developed the music, I decided to abandon the orchestral accompaniment and explore what could be achieved using the organ alone. It was a decision that gave me greater freedom to develop the music and make full use of the instrument's remarkable range of sounds.
Ascension opens with a driving rhythmic figure, marked Eroico (heroically), which establishes the character of the piece. From there, the music develops through a series of contrasting passages, combining soaring melodies, energetic figurations and increasingly powerful pedal lines. The momentum continues to build towards a triumphant conclusion that brings together the full resources of the organ.
The Organ of St. Margaret's, Munich
One of the pleasures of composing with Hauptwerk is the opportunity to explore extraordinary instruments from around the world, and the organ at St. Margaret's is a particularly interesting example.
Situated in Munich's Sendling district, the New Church of St. Margaret houses an impressive instrument whose origins date back to 1915, when it was built by Nenninger & Moser. Severely damaged during the Second World War, the organ underwent several stages of rebuilding and expansion before a major restoration and reorganisation in 2019–2020.
Today, it is a substantial symphonic instrument with three manuals, pedalboard and 74 stops, offering everything from delicate flutes and strings to commanding reeds and powerful 32-foot pedal stops. The church itself has an exceptionally spacious acoustic, with a reverberation time of up to ten seconds.
For Ascension, I particularly enjoyed exploring the contrast between the organ's quieter colours and its considerable power. Its wide tonal palette allowed me to develop the music in ways that would have been quite different on another instrument.
Bringing the Organ to Life with Hauptwerk
The instrument has been meticulously sampled by Piotr Grabowski, whose work makes it possible to experience organs such as this without travelling to Munich.
His St. Margaret's sample set captures not only the individual stops but also the acoustic character of the church, allowing the different sounds to blend naturally within that enormous space. The virtual instrument also provides additional registration flexibility, making it especially enjoyable to use when composing and performing new music.
I'm grateful to Piotr for making this wonderful instrument available, and I encourage anyone interested in Hauptwerk to explore his growing collection of sample sets.
Explore the St. Margaret's sample set at piotrgrabowski.pl
Listen to Ascension
Ascension is part of my continuing exploration of the organ as a solo instrument, particularly its ability to combine melody, rhythm, contrasting textures and large-scale musical drama.
The recording is also available on major streaming platforms, including a Dolby Atmos version that offers a more immersive experience of the organ and the acoustic space of St. Margaret's Church.
I hope you enjoy listening to the new piece as much as I enjoyed creating it.
Watch the performance below, or visit my music store to purchase the sheet music.