Erik Sikkema

October 2009:

LATEST RELEASE OF MY RECORDINGS:

The Last Schnitger Organ

Elizabeth Harrison plays the last organ built by the last generation of the Schnitger organbuilding family. The organ is situated in Bellingwolde, Groningen province, The Netherlands.

Read more and order at Raven Pipe Organ CDs and Choral CDs

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Magnificat

Motette, MOT 13681

Karin Nelson plays on the organs of Schärding (2004) and Kirchdorf am Inn (2006), built by Karl Nelson, Sweden.

Magnificat-Vertonungen von Buxtehude, Weckmann, Pachelbel, J.S. Bach, Hieronymus Praetorius, Samuel Scheidt und Melchior Schildt

 Order: click here

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I have a new e-mail address: erik.sikkema (at) telia.com

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Etcetera Records re-releases my more than 10 years old recording Canto Ostinato, played by Kees Wieringa and Polo de Haas. Again proof of a high technical quality recording. Thanks Etcetera and good luck !

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New Review of Abendmusik. Dietrich Buxtehude, Magnus Kjellson:

Ein weiterer, der so gute Arbeit geleistet hat, dass man seinen Part kaum bemerkt, ist der Aufnahmeingenieur Erik Sikkema. Endlich mal einer, der den Raum einfach mitmusizieren lässt! Ihm gelingt das Kunststück, dass man als Hörer immer einen konstanten, wohlbalancierten und stets zusammenhängenden Gesamtklang erlebt. Dabei ist die Klangauflösung ungewöhnlich hochwertig und die Dynamik angenehm kraftvoll.

See whole Review

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New Review of Dieterich Buxtehude: The Bach Perspective, Volume 2 Hans Davidsson:

Style: Thirty-three compositions by the 17th-century German-Danish composer greatly admired by J.S. Bach.

Worldview: "The purpose of this . . . project is to explore the encounter between Buxtehude's organ music and the North German Baroque Organ in Örgryte nya kyrka in GÖteborg."

Overall Quality: An exemplary presentation of both Buxtehude and the state-of-the-art ULSI recording process.

From Five noteworthy new or recent classical CDs reviewed by Arsenio Orteza at www.worldmag.com

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J.P. Sweelink, Jonathan Dimmock, Organs of Oosthuizen, Hattem and Nya Örgryte Church GÖteborg.

 For some soundsamples of this recording please click here.

This production I recorded for Jonathan Dimmock in June 2006 on two different ancient organs in Holland: Oosthuizen (near Amsterdam) and Hattem (near Zwolle)

Both of these organs are from the early 16th century (probably earlier), and in meantone.  Both have been restored to their former glory and temperament by the Flentrop organ company.  Both are a single manual and voiced in meantone temperament.  This is the first recording of the Oosthuizen organ since its recent renovation.

This is a 2 CD production and the other half of the recording (disc 2) was recorded in the winter of 2007 on the famous North German Barock Organ in G�teborg, Sweden.  This organ, built in the 20th century by the GOART team. This organ is perfectly suited to the larger works for Sweelinck.

The recording technique was as usual the ULSI stereo system, what creates a sensation quite unlike anything you have heard in traditional stereo music or even in surround sound.  More information on this technique at ULSI Testimonials

There are many places where you find these discs, from Amazon.com, Allegro-music.com; Arkivmusic.com, CDuniverse.com, gothicrecords.com (soon), and several others.  You can also find it at the bookstore of St. Ignatius Church (San Francisco) and Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church.

But simplest of all, you can purchase it directly through Jonathan Dimmock's website  www.JonathanDimmock.com for $25 plus $3 for shipping (US).

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Organ Works of Melchoir Schildt (1592/3-1667)

Raphaelis Organ of Roskilde Cathedral (Denmark)

Annette Richards, organ

The organ works of Melchior Schildt (1592/3-1667) were discovered in 1955, in a manuscript containing his monumental Magnificat. That manuscript reveals a highly accomplished organist-composer whose dramatic music expresses his eccentric personality.

Program Details:

Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck (1563-1621): Toccata in C

Melchior Schildt (1592/3-1667): Herzlich lieb hab' ich dich, o Herr

Heinrich Scheidemann (1596-1663): Praeambulum in F

Schildt: Herr Christ, der einig' Gotts Sohn (5 verses)

Schildt: Praeambulum in g

Schildt: Gleichwie das Feuer (3 variations)

Schildt: Praeambulum auf dem G

Schildt: Allein Gott in der Höh's sei Ehr

Schildt, after John Dowland (1562-1626): Paduana Lagrima                                                

Scheidemann: Fuga in d

Schildt: Magnificat primi toni (5 verses)

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Star Recording* in The Organ Magazine May-August 2008 !

We did it again, this is the second Star Recording review we received.  David Baker writes in his review:

"These CDs are most highly recommended, and have to be a star recording of star recordings as far as I am concerned; they are an absolute must to buy."

order info click here

Jutta van Hülsen

plays the historical Von Holy organ (1713) of Marienhafe, Ostfriesland, Germany.

Listen to a soundsample. Click here.

To order: Click here.

Anny Coronel

plays Rachmaninoff, Balakirev, Oestvolskaja and Rubinstein in Het Concertgebouw Amsterdam.

Recorded with ULSI technique.

Listen to a soundsample. Click here.

Volume 9 Bach Organ Works

recorded with ULSI stereo technique

(first pressing sold out in 1 month time!)

Even on YouTube (in mono!) this recording sounds already spectacular. You want to hear and see it, go to this link.

Track info and ordering click here.

AUDIOPHILE BEST FIND

2007

Classical Lost and Found (www.CLOFO.com)

Read why Bob McQuiston choose for Davidsson's Buxtehude interpretation, click here.

What do the critics say about Hans Davidsson's Buxtehude recording: The American Organist

"Use of the ULSI recording technique as mastered by its inventor, Erik Sikkema, heightens the overall effect of the organ's color, tuning, and presence in the reverberant room."

Read Hans Hellsten's raving review in the KMT magazine. Click here.

First volume in a set 3 boxes (7 CD's) with organ works by Dietrich Buxtehude, played by Hans Davidsson at the North German Baroque Organ in Göteborg, available at Gothic.

http://www.gothic-catalog.com

Curious? Click Here and listen to a sound sample from this album made with ULSI mk5 sound recording technique.

"Köp den här skivan, ni som är intresserade av ljudteknik och är nyfikna på vad Erik Sikkemas så kallade ULSI-teknik innebär! Det räcker dock med ett par öppna öron för att upptäcka att så här bra låter orglar sällan på skiva, här hörs både rum och detalj."

 Hans Hellsten, Sweden

 This is one of the best organ recordings to come along in some time and utilizes the new ULSI recording technology.  Audiophiles who love organ music must have this release and are encouraged to read about ULSI.

Bob McQuiston, Classical Lost and Found

I bought your registration Dieterich Buxtehude and the Mean-Tone Organ employing the ULSI technique. It's really fantastic the high level of quality you are able to extrapolate from the true sound of the organ. 

Gianni Movia, Italy.
 

"I just heard the Buxtehude. It's incredible! Wow!
The music, performer, organ, room and recording are perfectly matched with the highest quality. The sound of the organ came to the point of the true reproduction of the reality."

Munetaka Yokota, organbuilder.