- Ben van Oosten
Ben van Oosten (born
1955 in theHague ,Netherlands ) is anOrganist ,Professor andAuthor .Ben van Oosten gave his first organ recital in 1970 at the age of 15. He was accepted at the prestigious Sweelinck Conservatory in
Amsterdam and studied the organ with Albert de Klerk andpiano with Berthe Davelaar. He graduated "cum laude" in 1979 with a diploma in organ solo.He completed advanced studies in
Paris ,France , withAndré Isoir and Daniel Roth. Whether by geographical influence or artistic choice, he gravitated toward the French Romantic Organ school of the 19th Century that had its origins in the new Symphonic organs ofAristide Cavaillé-Coll . Van Oosten subsequently became one of the greatest practitioners and interpreters of organ works from that era. Among his recordings are the complete works ofCharles-Marie Widor , the complete works ofLouis Vierne , the eight sonatas ofAlexandre Guilmant and the organ works ofJacques-Nicolas Lemmens andLouis James Alfred Lefébure-Wély . He has also undertaken a recording of the complete works of Marcel Dupré.Besides maintaining a heavy recital schedule and an active private teaching practice, he serves as organist for Grote Kerk (Hague) and is a Professor of Music at
Rotterdam Conservatory in the Netherlands. He has also written a biography of Widor and his works, "Vater der Orgelsymphonie" [http://www.amazon.com/dp/3928243047] .Among the honors and awards he has received are the "Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik" and the "Diapason d"'Or. In 1998, the French government awarded him the honorary rank of
Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres for his efforts in reviving the French Romantic tradition.Discography
*Marcel Dupré: Complete Works for Organ (vol.1-9 — not yet complete) [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000035QB2]
*Alexandre Guilmant: Complete Organ Sonatas [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000021ED]
*Louis James Alfred Lefébure-Wély: Organ Works [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002YLB3Y]
*Jacques-Nicolas Lemmens: Organ Works [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005043F]
*Louis Vierne: Complete Organ Symphonies [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000265JI]
*Louis Vierne: 24 Pieces de Fantasie [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00000I15P]
*Louis Vierne: 24 Pieces en style libre and other works [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000056BQ3]
*Charles-Marie Widor: Complete Works for Organ (vol.1-7) [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000028AMR]
*Les Angélus: French Sacred Music for Soprano and Organ (with Margaret Roest) [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004UFFY]External links
* [http://amazon.de/dp/3928243047 "Vater der Orgelsymphonie"]
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