Lyricist(s): Whitman, Walt
Arranger(s): Brügge, Joachim
Conductor(s): Drčar, Alexander
Label: Gramola Records
Genre: Orchestral; Vocal
Period: Romantic
Catalogue No: Gramola99352
Barcode: 9003643993525
Release Date: 09/2025

BRÜGGE, J.: In the Spirit of Freedom / In the Spirit of Brahms / In the Spirit of History (Bavarian Chamber Philharmonic, Drčar)

In a time of widespread crisis and social upheaval, this album by the title “In The Spirit of Freedom” by composer and musicologist Joachim Brügge aims above all to emphasize the idea of inspiring subjects – instead of stagnation through mainstream and routine. The idea of freedom naturally forms the indispensable prerequisite for a self-determined life, as shown in the first piece “In The Spirit of Freedom”, with references to Ludwig van Beethoven and Walt Whitman. “In The Spirit of Brahms” thematizes an adaptation of individual works by Johannes Brahms, such as some waltzes from Op. 39 and the Violin Concerto, Op. 77. “In The Spirit of History” reflects the seemingly self-evident availability of almost 1000 years of music history in the digital age, with a recourse from the Middle Ages (Perotin) to the 19th century (Edvard Grieg). Finally, “In The Spirit of Fairy Tales” opens up a final perspective on motifs from Finnish fairy tales (in the spirit of Jean Sibelius), with a broad spectrum of fascinating characters, stories and music. The chamber ensemble Bayerische Kammerphilharmonie is conducted by Alexander Drčar, and is supported by soloists Thomas Oberleitner, trumpet, Rodrigo Alegre Vargas, tenor und Monja Heuler, harmonica.

Tracklist

Brügge, Joachim
Whitman, Walt - Lyricist
Oberleitner, Thomas (trumpet)
Bavarian Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Drčar, Alexander (Conductor)
Alegre Vargas, Rodrigo (tenor)
1 I. I Believe in You, My Soul 04:01
Oberleitner, Thomas (trumpet)
Bavarian Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Drčar, Alexander (Conductor)
2 II. O Captain! My Captain! 05:40
Alegre Vargas, Rodrigo (tenor)
Oberleitner, Thomas (trumpet)
Bavarian Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Drčar, Alexander (Conductor)
3 III. Variations 06:04
Oberleitner, Thomas (trumpet)
Bavarian Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Drčar, Alexander (Conductor)
4 IV. The Mystic Trumpeter (Joy! All over Joy!) 07:13
Alegre Vargas, Rodrigo (tenor)
Oberleitner, Thomas (trumpet)
Bavarian Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Drčar, Alexander (Conductor)
Brügge, Joachim
Heuler, Monja (harmonica)
Bavarian Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Drčar, Alexander (Conductor)
5 I. Do You Know the Waltz? (after J. Brahms' 16 Waltzes, Op. 39) 06:21
Heuler, Monja (harmonica)
Bavarian Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Drčar, Alexander (Conductor)
6 II. Moderato 04:17
Heuler, Monja (harmonica)
Bavarian Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Drčar, Alexander (Conductor)
7 III. Paraphrase, Op. 77 (after J. Brahms' Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77) 06:09
Heuler, Monja (harmonica)
Bavarian Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Drčar, Alexander (Conductor)
8 IV. Variations (after N. Paganini's 24 Caprices, Op. 1, MS 25: No. 24 in A Minor) 05:08
Heuler, Monja (harmonica)
Bavarian Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Drčar, Alexander (Conductor)
Bavarian Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Drčar, Alexander (Conductor)
9 I. Griegerian (not Gregorian, like the Final!): A Tribute to Holberg Suite 04:02
Bavarian Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Drčar, Alexander (Conductor)
10 II. A Promise in F 02:38
Bavarian Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Drčar, Alexander (Conductor)
11 III. Adagio, "All Truths Wait in All Things" 04:14
Bavarian Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Drčar, Alexander (Conductor)
12 IV. Minuet from Old Times 04:56
Bavarian Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Drčar, Alexander (Conductor)
13 V. Mr. Perotin's Resume 04:31
Bavarian Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Drčar, Alexander (Conductor)
Bavarian Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Drčar, Alexander (Conductor)
14 I. In the Spirit of Tuonela 07:45
Bavarian Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Drčar, Alexander (Conductor)
15 II. Luonnotar and the Female Spirit 03:41
Bavarian Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Drčar, Alexander (Conductor)
16 III. Trolls from Utgard 04:44
Bavarian Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Drčar, Alexander (Conductor)
17 IV. Asgards Arcadia 04:17
Bavarian Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Drčar, Alexander (Conductor)
Brahms, Johannes
Brügge, Joachim - Arranger
Heuler, Monja (harmonica)
Bavarian Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Drčar, Alexander (Conductor)
18 5 Lieder, Op. 49: No. 4. Wiegenlied (arr. J. Brügge for harmonica and orchestra) 03:14
Heuler, Monja (harmonica)
Bavarian Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Drčar, Alexander (Conductor)

Total Playing Time: 01:28:55