Death of leading US organist, 78
RIPThe death was reported today of the distinguished American organist and composer Daniel Chorzempa.
He had a richly varied career as a member of Stockhausen’s electronic studio in Cologne, a conducting assistant at the Salzburg Festival and as a widely recorded winner of the Leipzig Bach Prize. He was also a practising architect.
His box set of Bach’s Trio Sonatas changed my life in the early seventies. I wore through the records and had to replace them. He was a remarkable musician and stunning performer.
He was of Polish and Alsatian descent, and he won the Edison Prize and the Grand Prix du Disque.
I didn’t know he was not that old – my introduction to the Widor 5th Organ Symphony was his recording. RIP.
I’ve got some of his brilliant recordings of Widor’s organ symphonies.
He’ll be much missed. RIP.
All of the above. For me it was his boxed set of the Handel organ concerti. Stylish, inventive and wholly satisfying performances on an exquisite Dutch instrument.
I once heard him live in London (Christ the King, Bloomsbury) in the early 70s before his recording career took off. He seemed just as comfortable and convincing with Liszt.
I have that Handel box set too and love it. Also the wonderful set of Haydn (M & J) organ concerti played on the instruments at Eisenstadt. RIP
He came up at the same time in Germany as I — in fact, we were both soloists with the RSO in Berlin in 1973 or 74…
Great organist !
The picture shows him at the organ of Zwolle, the Netherlands, which I had seen and tried out myself in 1978.
A wonderfully gifted and intelligent musician, and a charming person.
I had an LP of him playing some Beethoven piano sonatas and loved his performance of the Appassionata. What a talented man.
Just by chance bought his Philips CD of two Widor Symphonies yesterday in an Oxfam shop .Fantastic!!!!!!!!
R.I.P.
In the eighties, I fell in love with his Handel organ concerti, I couldn’t stop listening to them (a neighbour even came to ask me what it was) and his interpretation really started my love for baroque music.
Why don’t we write that to the musicians when they are alive? I felt the same with Julian Bream.
What’s even sadder is that according to an article in La Nazione (Addio a Chorzempa. Il grandissimo artista se n’è andato da solo. E nessuno lo cerca), his body lies unclaimed in a refrigerated drawer at the Cappelle del Commiato in Florence, where he died. Apparently, they have been unsuccessful in locating family or friend who will claim the body.
Thank you Brian, I’ve read the article, this is really heartbreaking.
Such a gifted musician and interesting person!
Brian; will you please tell me where I can read the article. I went to elementary school with ‘Danny’. I would like to assist with bringing him back to Minneapolis. You can reach me at donpowell818@gmail.com.
Thank you!!
don powell
Always loved his two Philips LPs of Liszt organ music, and why are these recordings not on CD? (Aside from the Weinen, Klagen Variations used as a filler on a Bach SACD.)
Has Mr. Chorzempa’s body yet been claimed?
I just read about Daniel’s death and the dilemma regarding his body. I went to elementary school with Daniel. I would like to assist in bringing his body back home to Minneapolis. He was a brilliant student and an incredible musician.
don powell
I heard him in Oxford Town Hall in 1969, as part of the Oxford Bach Festival, giving an astonishing Beethoven recital. He played the Waldstein, with the Andante favori as middle movement, followed after only the shortest of breaks by the Diabelli – no time for comfort breaks. He took a bow after the Waldstein, came back on and plunged into the Diabelli. I was in the front row. Fabulous performance. Leading critic Felix Aprahamian said the next day that Chorzempa “piled the Pelion of the Diabelli on the Ossa of the Waldstein” – I think he meant it in a good way. At the time I’d only heard the Diabelli on the radio, played by Brendel, fell in love with it immediately.