FRANJO LUČIĆ Elegija u f-molu ▪ Elegy in F Minor - PAVAO MAŠIĆ

Like his teacher Franjo Dugan, Franjo Lučić was equally active on many different fields: he was university teacher of organ and counterpoint for 40 years (and the Rector of the Music Academy in Zagreb), organist in Zagreb Cathedral, Zagreb Synagogue and St Catherine Church in the Upper Town in Zagreb, he founded his own private music school Polyhymnia and, most interesting, he was rather important politician who served as the Head of Turopolje County, developing that region by constructing the roads, schools and libraries. Among more than 140 pieces, he wrote this beautiful Elegy in F Minor, in organ version in 1934, and in orchestral version in 1935, evidently inspired by folk melodies from his native Turopolje region. Modal music full of orchestral colors forms a rich tapestry of motives that are reminiscent of the melodies composer probably heard and sung during his childhood. Thanks to his student Anđelko Klobučar who published it in 1973, and with whom I had an opportunity to work on this piece when I was around 17 years old, this piece always reminds me of my own childhood, since this was the piece I played on one of my first concerts. One can always find new colors and registrations, and this recording was done in that sense, inspired with the sonorities of the Great Organ of Zagreb Cathedral, now temporarily quiet after the great earthquake on 22 March, 2020. Using composer's indication as a point of departure, I tried to find and use many colors based on reeds: Oboe 8', Tuba 8', Trompette harmonique 8', and rather special anches libres Fagott-Clarinette 16' and Vox Humana 8' (both of which really sound as a real clarinette!). For the final cadence the Voix Humaine 8' from the IV. manual was used, together with Super and Sub couplers, resulting in the rich, yet delicate and transparent sound. _________ FRANJO LUČIĆ (1889-1972) Elegy in F Minor (1934) PAVAO MAŠIĆ Organ by Eberhard Friedrich Walcker (1855) Zagreb Cathedral, Croatia Recorded live, September 2015 Photo & Audio: Mirko Cvjetko www.pavaomasic.com