Interactive Poll : Let The Sun Shine In

Out of these two artists, Bantzer is more interesting for me since I have not yet had the opportunity to listen to contemporary pipe/church organ music so far. On the other hand I'm quite familiar with so-called minimal music of which Steve Reich is one of the most important exponents. Therefore, my first vote will go to Claus Bantzer’s Samsara II, also because this piece is a pleasure to listen to, whereas Reich - at the peak of his minimalist creative period - impresses rather on a musicological, intellectual level.

Jazz, along with rock music, is one of the genres where the electronic organ has also been used quite frequently, and in a similar period of time. I am pleased to get to know the talented Barbara Dennerlein who is the only jazz act (in the narrower sense) in the current line-up. So my second vote will go to Barbara and her composition Just Play, performed together with Tino Wolf.

As mentioned before, there are quite a few rock and blues acts in this edition and each one is great in its own way. Apart from the big names it was the lesser-known artists that caught my interest, esp. Church of the Cosmic Skull who succeed particularly well in bringing the retro vibe of the 70s into the present day. If I had a third vote, it would go to this band.

I'm aware that I am breaking the fairness rule by voting for two entries by the same person. I apologise for this but musical diversity is important to me as well. However, the decisive factor was in the end that the focus of the track is on the organ which was the topic of this poll.

Btw. I came across this live rendition of Steve Reich’s Four Organs. I think it helps to understand what this piece is all about.

Thank you very much for hosting, JD. And thank you all for the music. Once again a very enjoyable edition!