L’Organista – Volume Due – Laudate Deum in chordis et organo

A biannual publication of organ music that includes both liturgical and general repertoire, offering thematic miscellanies of short pieces of easy to medium difficulty. The varied musical selection features works by emerging composers, alternated with small masterpieces by established European musicians and a significant selection of valuable compositions from the magazine’s historical and rare repertoire.

A reference publication for all musicians in need of high-quality organ compositions, suitable both for liturgical performance and, more broadly, for concert organ music.

This issue of *L’organista* opens with a small “Organ Notebook” by Francesco Gabellieri, a collection of short pieces conceived for liturgical service: alongside some freely composed works, others draw from the great thesaurus of Gregorian chant, the Reformed chorale (later adopted in certain Italian liturgical songs), folk melodies, and conclude with the rigor of strict fugal counterpoint. Juxtaposing *nova et vetera*, the issue presents three unpublished fugues from an autograph manuscript by Father Giambattista Martini, two “in the old style” pieces by Fausto Fenice (an *Andante cantabile* and a short fugue), and eight additional fugues by an anonymous 18th-century composer.
The final section of the issue is entirely devoted to contemporary compositions, beginning with seven “Gregorian miniatures” by Gilberto Sessantini based on the Introits of Advent and Christmas, followed by an organ *Esquisse* by David Jackson, and concluding with three pieces by Mario Lanaro in which the composer revisits melodies of three well-known hymns (one taken from the *Laudario di Cortona*), developing them into meditative interludes, improvisatory sketches, or a final pompous march.
*Laudate Deum in chordis et organo*—Praise the Lord with strings and organ—could often be found engraved or painted on the cases of old organs: with these pages we offer to print, we hope that the precious “ministry” of the organist is not lost in today’s liturgies—one capable of bringing dignity and beauty to the celebration, encouraging more profound and collected prayer, and glorifying the majestic splendor of God.

In 2020, the Volontè & Co. publishing group acquired the historic Carrara publishing brand, thereby expanding its catalogue, which already included the labels Volontè, Rugginenti, Casa Musicale Eco, and Lanaro. The acquisition aimed to ensure the continuity of the publishing house founded in 1912 by Commendatore Vittorio Carrara, focusing both on enhancing Carrara’s historical repertoire and developing new artistic perspectives by collaborating with talented composers on the creation of new works.

Starting in 2024, the decision was made to merge the four Carrara magazines into two types of biannual publications: Celebriamo and L’Organista. These new repertoire collections, whether anthological or monographic, are characterized by containing almost three times as many compositions as previous editions.

“L’ORGANISTA” is the new organ music magazine published by Volontè, continuing the legacy of the previous Carrara magazines *L’Organo nella liturgia* and *Organistica*, from which it inherits content and musical approach.
It serves as a container for organ pieces for liturgy, spiritual elevation, and concert performance. Alongside new compositions and editions of international organ repertoire, the magazine also offers rediscovered Italian musical treasures that Carrara Editions have published over the past century and that rightly deserve renewed appreciation at the European level.