Aria (Op. 51) Flor Peeters (1903-1986) [ORGAN]
Improvisation [ORGAN]
Flor Peeters, a Belgian, was a significant composer and performer for organ in the 20th century. After stellar organ studies he was appointed assistant organist at Cathedral of St. Rombout in Mechelen (age 20), and became head organist at age 22. His long career was evenly divided between teaching, composing and performing.
When the Germans occupied Belgium in 1940, Peeters refused to perform for the German occupiers. As a result, his passport was confiscated. Nevertheless, he was permitted to travel regularly across the border between Belgium and the Netherlands in order to continue his teaching commitments, and in the course of doing this he carried secret messages between the authorities of the cathedrals of these two countries.
Peeters wrote this morning’s prelude in 1945.
Peeters died at age 83, shortly after being appointed ‘baron’ by the king of Belgium — only the third musician to be so honored.