This is a fascinating CD; we hear sounds from a pipe organ far removed from the everyday world of choral services in churches and cathedrals. Forty or so years ago, such sounds were probably labelled ‘experimental’; with hindsight, they seem much more a part of what was happening in music in the late 20th century. In Rrrrrrr…, some of the organ textures recall Messiaen, with their use of harmonic overtones and extreme high and low pitches. Kagel’s compositional style is also akin to the music of Boulez, Cage, Ligeti and Stockhausen. In Phantasie he uses the device of combining live performance with recorded sounds – a mixture of man-made household objects and natural sounds. Meanwhile, in Improvisation ajoutée, a complementary sound world is created by the organist with two assistants manipulating unusual stop combinations and adding vocal interjections and body percussion.

As well as the varied musical influences, Kagel’s music could be regarded as being a response to the constantly changing aural and visual world. His organ pieces are, on one level, the musical equivalent of the groundbreaking images seen on TVs, computers and in certain film genres, such as horror and sci-fi. Coming from the acoustic sounds of a large pipe organ in a resonant acoustic, these adventurous compositions make more of an impact than if they had been performed with purely electronic/digital means.

The CD also includes Dominik Susteck’s imaginative improvisations K A G E L, which are a worthy musical homage to such a stimulating composer. Much credit and gratitude should go to Susteck and his assistants; their skill and commitment make this a captivating and spellbinding experience.