On the Keys Podcast, Click to Listen. Brennan Szafron organist and Denis Bedard composer. The Suite Romantique.

On this edition of Your Compositions Canadian pipe organ music played by a Canadian organist on a French Canadian organ. Brennan Szafron recorded the Suite Romantique on the Twichell Pipe Organ, a 50-some rank Casavant on the campus of Converse College. Our composer is the prolific Denis Bedard who writes contemporary music that in the words of Dr. Szafron does not sound like cats scratching each other.

Here are Denis Bedard's notes on his piece:

One could say that this work is a meeting between Bedard and Boellmann! The parallel between the “Suite Romantique” and Boellmann’s “Suite Gothique” is obvious, but the musical ideas are very different. Commissioned by the British organist Ralph Franklin, and written in 2004-5, the work begins with a majestic Prelude-Choral, followed by a lively Allegro giocoso. After a lyrical Intermezzo, a brilliant Final-Toccata shows off the organ in all it’s splendor.

About Your Compositions

Is the part of the show that features new works for the piano. On the Keys is actively seeking out your pianist compositions (and sometimes organ and piano with other instruments). Art music composers of all age are invited to send me David Kiser your work for broadcast. On the Keys has featured works by composers such as George Tsontakis, Katharine Norman, Jon Grier, Chris Harman, and Denis Bedard. Send inquires to Keys@scpublicradio.org