Orgelpunkt: Villanueva de Huerva Anna Pikulska

• Pedro de Araújo (? – ca. 1704): Batalha de Sexto Tom:
• 1 Araújo: Batalha de Sexto Tom 06:32
• Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck (1562 - 1621): Variations on "Mein junges Leben hat ein End", SwWV 324:
• 2 Sweelinck: Variations on "Mein junges Leben hat ein End", SwWV 324: 07:36
• Sebastián Durón (1660 - 1716): Gaitilla de Mano Izquierda:
• 3 Durón: Gaitilla de Mano Izquierda 03:15
• Bernardo Storace (ca. 1637 - ca. 1707): Ballo della Battaglia:
• 4 Storace: Ballo della Battaglia 02:54
• Manuel Narro (1729 - 1776): Batalla:
• 5 Narro: Batalla 05:25
• Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck: Variations on "Unter der Linden grüne", SwWV 325:
• 6 Sweenlinck: Variations on "Unter der Linden grüne", SwWV 325 05:34
• Sebastián Aguilera de Heredia (1561 - 1627): Obra de Octavo Tono Alto "Ensalada":
• 7 Heredia: Obra de Octavo Tono Alto "Ensalada" 05:46
• Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck: Variations on "Est-ce Mars", SwWV 321:
• 8 Sweenlinck: Variations on "Est-ce Mars", SwWV 321 05:01
• Jusepe Ximénez (ca. 1600 - 1672): Batalla de Sexto Tono:
• 9 Ximénez: Batalla de Sexto Tono 06:07
• Girolamo Frescobaldi (1583 - 1643): Canzona Quarta, F 3.16:
• 10 Frescobaldi: Canzona Quarta, F 3.16 03:52
• Francisco Correa de Arauxo (1584 - 1654): Tiento de medio registro de tiple de Octavo Tono:
• 11 Arauxo: Tiento de medio registro de tiple de Octavo Tono 05:26
• Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck: Toccata, SwWV 288:
• 12 Sweenlinck: Toccata, SwWV 288 05:35
• José de Nebra (1702 - 1768): Tocata para Órgano:
• 13 Nebra: Tocata para Órgano 05:48
• Total Runtime 01:08:51

Info for Orgelpunkt: Villanueva de Huerva

Anna Pikulska unleashes the full might of the historic 1607 Villanueva de Huerva organ, revealing its sonorous depth and dramatic character. Thunderous Batallas, blazing trumpets en chamade, and even drum effects created within the instrument itself make this recording an electrifying experience.

This colourful programme spans Spain’s golden organ tradition with inspired excursions to Italy and the Netherlands. Works by Correa de Arauxo, Aguilera de Heredia, Sweelinck and Frescobaldi amongst others shine in performances rich with contrast, virtuosity and stylistic flair.

Delicate flute stops, finely shaded voices and refined colours float through the wonderful acoustic of Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles in Aragón. The built-in echo effects, captured the listener with a sense of space and serenity.

With new additions to the repertoire and countless sonic surprises, this recording celebrates the long, distinctive tradition of Spanish organ music. Pikulska’s keen ear for detail and joyful musicianship make these rarely heard masterpieces come alive in all their splendour."

Anna Pikulska, organ

Anna Pikulska
Born in Opole, she studied organ with Julian Gembalski at the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice from 2004 to 2009. She then pursued advanced studies in the soloist class of Gerhard Gnann at the Mainz School of Music, a department of Johannes Gutenberg University (JGU) Mainz, graduating with a concert diploma in 2012. She was a scholarship recipient of the Walter and Sibylle Kalkhof-Rose Foundation Mainz and the Paul and Maria Kremer Foundation Cologne. In 2011, she received the JGU Prize for exceptionally talented young female artists, which included a teaching position in the Department of Church Music/Organ at the Mainz School of Music. From 2013 to 2015, she was a junior member of the Gutenberg Academy at JGU. Through studies with Jacques van Oortmerssen and masterclasses with Christoph Bossert, Bernhard Haas, and Daniel Roth, she received valuable artistic inspiration.

Anna Pikulska has been awarded numerous scholarships from the Minister of Culture, the Prime Minister, and the President of the Republic of Poland's Foundation for Young Talents. She has garnered attention through concerts both in Poland and abroad, as well as through winning several organ competitions. For example, in 2007 she won second prize and a special prize at the Brno International Organ Competition; in 2009, she received an award for the best performance of a work by J. P. Sweelinck at the J. P. Sweelinck International Organ Competition in Gdańsk; in 2012, she won first prize at the FUGATO International Organ Competition in Bad Homburg; and in 2014, she won second prize and an audience prize at the 7th International Organ Competition for the Hermann Schroeder Prize in Trier.

Anna Pikulska has received numerous scholarships from the Minister of Culture, the Prime Minister, and the President of the Polish Foundation for Young Talents. She has garnered attention through concerts both in Poland and abroad, as well as through winning several organ competitions.

Since October 2016, Anna Pikulska has been working as a research and artistic associate in the Department of Church Music/Organ at the Mainz University of Music as part of a postdoctoral research position.

In 2016, her first CD recording, "Orgelmusik aus der Wieskirche" (Organ Music from the Wieskirche), was released, featuring performances on the new organ in the world-famous Wieskirche.

A university grant enabled Anna Pikulska to produce a double CD, for which she recorded works by Johann Sebastian Bach in 2016 as part of her research project on the large historical Baroque organ in Waltershausen and on the Gottfried Silbermann organ in Freiberg Cathedral. For this CD, Anna Pikulska received the German Record Critics' Award in 2018.

Booklet for Orgelpunkt: Villanueva de Huerva