The Hermetic Organ

The Hermetic Organ is an album by John Zorn, consisting of a single live improvisation on the Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ of St. Paul's Chapel at Columbia University, which was released on Tzadik Records in June 2012.[1][2] The performance was held at 11 PM on the evening of December 9, 2011,[2] which Zorn has noted was a full moon,[3] as an encore to a "Composer Portrait" ensemble performance of his works held earlier that night at the Miller Theatre.[2] It is the first release by Zorn to exclusively document his solo improvisations on the organ, his first instrument.[4] In 2014, Zorn released a second volume of improvisations, The Hermetic Organ Vol. 2.[5]

The Hermetic Organ
Live album by
John Zorn
ReleasedJune 19, 2012
RecordedDecember 9, 2011
St. Paul's Chapel, Columbia University, NYC
GenreImprovised music
Length36:25
LabelTzadik TZ 7399
ProducerJohn Zorn
John Zorn chronology
Templars: In Sacred Blood
(2012)		 The Hermetic Organ
(2012)		 Rimbaud
(2012)

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Free Jazz Collective

Lou Reed, who attended the performance, called it a night of "culmination and conquest", and Zorn himself thought highly of the improvisation, calling it "something special" and "a truly magical event."[3] Phillip Coombs of The Free Jazz Collective stated "This is a type of recording that needs to be savored, played loud and with good headphones... this is a very serious recording, especially with the themes he tackles and the environment he tackles them in. Rarely is Zorn recorded solo lately and this alone makes it special".[6]

Track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Office Nr 4"
1. "Introit"
2. "Benediction"
3. "Offertory"
4. "Elevation"
5. "Communion"
6. "Descent"		36:25

Personnel

References
  1. "John Zorn: The Hermetic Organ". Tzadik.com. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
  2. Columbia University Events: John Zorn: Solo Organ Concert, accessed November 8, 2013
  3. Zorn, John (2012). "2011". The Hermetic Organ: St. Paul's Chapel, NYC (Media notes). John Zorn. Tzadik Records. liner notes.
  4. "John Zorn: The Hermetic Organ At St. Paul's Chapel, NYC". The Hermetic Organ At St. Paul's Chapel, NYC (Media notes). John Zorn. Tzadik Records. 2012. folio.CS1 maint: others (link)
  5. "John Zorn : The Hermetic Organ vol. 2—St. Paul's Chapel". Tzadik. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
  6. Coombs, P, The Free Jazz Collective Review, Free Jazz Collective, August 24, 2012


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