Symphonies with organ

[Bryn]

I seem to recall that Sorabji's two organ symphonies might have employed the instrument in question. I wonder if anyone here might be able to throw more light on the matter?

[VodkaDilc]

Poulenc's Concerto for Organ, string and timpani? i am surprised no-one has mentioned this one?

I assumed it wasn't allowed, since the question specified symphonies. If concertos are included, there are plenty of examples: Handel, Williamson, Hindemith, etc.

[EdgeleyRob]

RVW 7,maybe just a few chords but what an impact.

http://www.philharmonia.co.uk/concerts/series/vaughan_williams/music/sinfonia_antartica/

[ahinton]

I seem to recall that Sorabji's two organ symphonies might have employed the instrument in question. I wonder if anyone here might be able to throw more light on the matter?

Sorabji wrote two orchestral symphonies, each of which contains a part for organ; neither has yet been performed, although the latter is being edited and typeset. He also wrote not two but three symphonies for organ solo, of which the first was recorded back in 1988, the second received its première in 2010 in Glasgow but is not yet recorded and the third has yet to be performed or recorded; of these three works, each cast in three movements, the first occupies almost two hours, the second nine hours (or has done so far - the organist who's played, it, Kevin Bowyer, reckons that it could and eventually will be tightened up to take up around 8¼ hours) and the third probably takes up some 7½ hours.

[Bryn]

Sorabji wrote two orchestral symphonies, each of which contains a part for organ; neither has yet been performed, although the latter is being edited and typeset. He also wrote not two but three symphonies for organ solo, of which the first was recorded back in 1988, the second received its première in 2010 in Glasgow but is not yet recorded and the third has yet to be performed or recorded; of these three works, each cast in three movements, the first occupies almost two hours, the second nine hours (or has done so far - the organist who's played, it, Kevin Bowyer, reckons that it could and eventually will be tightened up to take up around 8¼ hours) and the third probably takes up some 7½ hours.

Thank you Mr. H. When you write that the second has not been recorded, I take it that you mean other than the performance broadcast on a Dutch radio station, which I feel sure I have heard more than once.

Kaikhosru Sorabji ... : Organ Symphony no.2
deel 1: Introduction
deel 2: thema, variaties 1-19
deel 2b deel 2 variaties 20-34
deel 2c deel 2 variaties 35-45
deel 2d deel 2 variaties 46-50

[ahinton]

Thank you Mr. H. When you write that the second has not been recorded, I take it that you mean other than the performance broadcast on a Dutch radio station, which I feel sure I have heard more than once.

Indeed - the première was recorded privately and this was broadcast as you mention; what I meant was that the symphony has yet to appear on a commercially available CD - or rather a set of around six thereof...

[Pabmusic]

The Copland 3rd doesn't include an organ...

No it doesn't.

[Vile Consort]

Mahler 2, if I am not mistaken, has a part for the organ towards the end.

[Ahollingsworth1961]

Also sprach zarattustra has an organ but it is not a symphony

[Flay]

Also sprach zarattustra has an organ but it is not a symphony

And of course Strauss' Eine Alpensinfonie , but that too isn't really one either...

[Pabmusic]

Liszt: A Faust Symphony (the Dante Symphony nearly qualifies - it has a harmonium!)
Szymanowski: Symphony 3
Ives: Symphony 4
Brian: Gothic Symphony
Holst: First Choral Symphony

[Pabmusic]

And of course Strauss' Eine Alpensinfonie , but that too isn't really one either...

This is a problem. Also Sprach is certainly not a symphony - but its composer never called it one. But Strauss did call Eine Alpensinfonie a 'symphony', so unless there's good authority that he was having a laugh at our expense, we simply can't cast it aside because it 'isn't a real symphony'. It also raises the question: "What is a real symphony?'. Now there's a can of worms.

[french frank]

Also sprach zarattustra has an organ but it is not a symphony

'Morning AH1961 - and welcome!

Yes, what is a symphony? And is it really a symphony if it has a major role for a single instrument anyway? (Bof, internet very slow this morning: I'm sure it isn't us!)

[Bryn]

... (Bof, internet very slow this morning: I'm sure it isn't us!)

Seems to have speeded up in the past few minutes. It have here anyway.

[ahinton]

Yes, what is a symphony? And is it really a symphony if it has a major role for a single instrument anyway?

Well that question would call into question works such as Britten's Cello Symphony, I presume. And then what about the Symphonie that is movements 4-7 of his Douze études dans les tons mineurs? or the one unnumbered and six numbered symphonies for piano solo by Sorabji? or indeed all those French symphonies for organ solo by Widor, Vierne, Tournemire, Dupré et al (and, incidentally, Guilmant wrote two symphonies for organ and orchestra) or other ones by Karg-Elert, Sorabji and Finnissy?