Organ music on CD Review 11.4.15

[Nick Armstrong]

Haven't heard it all yet but so far I like this bloke and what he's saying


10.40am New Releases - Oliver Condy reviews organ recordings

Andrew is joined by Oliver Condy to discuss recent organ recordings including works by Franck, Bach, and Widor played by some of the stars of today's generation of organists on a stunning selection of instruments.


JS Bach: Complete Organ Music, Vol. 1

BACH, J S: Prelude & Fugue in A minor, BWV543; Chorale Prelude BWV736 'Valet will ich dir geben'; Trio Sonata No. 1 in E flat major, BWV525; Chorale Partita BWV767 'O Gott, du frommer Gott'; Fantasia super 'Valet will ich dir geben', BWV735; Trio Sonata No. 2 in C minor, BWV526; Prelude & Fugue in G major, BWV541

Stefano Molardi (organ)

BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94850BR (4CD budget)



Franck: Father of the Organ Symphony

FRANCK, C: Pieces (6) for Organ; Trois pieces pour grand orgue, M. 35-37; Trois Chorals pour grand orgue, M. 38-40

David Noel-Hudson, Eric Lebrun, Joris Verdin, Jean-Pierre Griveau, Olivier Penin (organ)

FUGUE STATE FILMS FSFDVD009 (2 CDs + 2 DVDS mid-price)



Widor: Organ Symphonies Nos. 1-4

WIDOR: Organ Symphony No. 1 in C minor Op.13 No. 1; Organ Symphony No. 2 in D major Op. 13 No. 2; Organ Symphony No. 3 in E minor Op. 13 No. 3; Organ Symphony No. 4 in F minor Op. 13 No. 4

Christian Schmitt (Cavaille-Orgel der Abteikirche St. Ouen, Rouen)

CPO 7777052 (2Hybrid SACD mid-price)



Widor: The Complete Organ Symphonies Volume 4

WIDOR: Organ Symphony No. 7 in A minor Op. 42 No. 3; Organ Symphony No. 8 in B major Op. 42 No. 4

Joseph Nolan [The Cavaille-Coll organ of La Madeleine, Paris]

SIGNUM SIGCD337 (2CD mid-price)



Rachmaninov: Transcriptions & Arrangements for Organ

RACHMANINOV: Etude-Tableau Op. 39 No. 9 in D major; Variations on a theme of Corelli Op. 42; Fuga in D minor (1891); Prelude Op. 32 No. 11 in B major; Vocalise Op. 34 No. 14; Symphonic Dances Op. 45

Jeremy Filsell (the Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts Philadelphia, USA)

SIGNUM SIGCD324 (CD mid-price)



Organ Party Volume 1

ANDERSON, LEROY: Bugler's Holiday

AYRES, P: Toccata on All You Need is Love

DAVIES, MAXWELL: Farewell to Stromness

FARRINGTON: Fiesta!

GUZZINI: Jazzman Swing

KOOMANS: Basso Ostinato

SCHIFRIN: Mission Impossible - Theme

SELLARS, G: In Old Thibet

SWAYNE: Mr Bach’s Bottle Bank

WAMMES: Miroir

WATSON, R: Badinage

WILSON-DICKSON: Passacaglia on a theme of Stevie Wonder

Kevin Bowyer (The Harrison and Harrison Organ of Glasgow Cathedral)

PRIORY PRCD1085 (CD)

[Karafan]

I agree, Cali!

[BBMmk2]

Looks like another catch up here. I saw this and thought damn, I'm having a jamming session today. (I have only just come back from it! :) )

[vinteuil]

Haven't heard it all yet but so far I like this bloke and what he's saying

... yes, very much. I think CDs may be being bought as a result....

[ahinton]

Organ Party Volume 1

ANDERSON, LEROY: Bugler's Holiday

AYRES, P: Toccata on All You Need is Love

DAVIES, MAXWELL: Farewell to Stromness

FARRINGTON: Fiesta!

GUZZINI: Jazzman Swing

KOOMANS: Basso Ostinato

SCHIFRIN: Mission Impossible - Theme

SELLARS, G: In Old Thibet

SWAYNE: Mr Bach’s Bottle Bank

WAMMES: Miroir

WATSON, R: Badinage

WILSON-DICKSON: Passacaglia on a theme of Stevie Wonder

Kevin Bowyer (The Harrison and Harrison Organ of Glasgow Cathedral)

PRIORY PRCD1085 (CD)

This is the organist who once - well, on three separate occasions, once each - performed (for charity, I believe) the complete organ symphonies of Widor, the ditto of Vierne and the entire organ works of Messiaen at a single sitting and has to date performed, recorded and broadcast Sorabji's 2 hour long First Organ Symphony and performed (twice, complete, to date) and (more recently) the same composer's Second Organ Symphony which clocks in at 9 hours + intervals (though he says that he can pare that down to around 8 and a bit eventually). His repertoire includes composers as diverse as Frescobaldi and Ferneyhough, Reger and Xenakis and he's also performed and recorded the compete organ works of the husband of Anna Magdalena Bach. Is there anything that he can't do at the organ?!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

This is the organist who once - well, on three separate occasions, once each - performed (for charity, I believe) the complete organ symphonies of Widor, the ditto of Vierne and the entire organ works of Messiaen at a single sitting and has to date performed, recorded and broadcast Sorabji's 2 hour long First Organ Symphony and performed (twice, complete, to date) and (more recently) the same composer's Second Organ Symphony which clocks in at 9 hours + intervals (though he says that he can pare that down to around 8 and a bit eventually). His repertoire includes composers as diverse as Frescobaldi and Ferneyhough, Reger and Xenakis and he's also performed and recorded the compete organ works of the husband of Anna Magdalena Bach. Is there anything that he can't do at the organ?!

And, to add to the list, Bowyer gave the premiere last year of Arthur Butterworth's Organ Concerto and had told the composer that he would also give the first performance of his Organ Sonata (some twenty years after it was written) - news and dedication that gave the composer great optimism in his final months.

[Nick Armstrong]

I very much enjoyed the performance of Franck's Prélude from Prélude, Fugue et Variation Op. 18. I love that piece.

It's just about the only piece by Franck I actually like!

[teamsaint]

I very much enjoyed the performance of Franck's Prélude from Prélude, Fugue et Variation Op. 18. I love that piece.

It's just about the only piece by Franck I actually like!

I ought to try to hear more of his organ music. very much enjoyed a piece In a cathedral in Bruges a couple of ears ago, no idea what it was though.

Anyway, yes, caught a few snippets of this section of the show, and deffo one to revisit properly later. tempted by that Brilliant box....

[vinteuil]

I very much enjoyed the performance of Franck's Prélude from Prélude, Fugue et Variation Op. 18. I love that piece.

:

... there is a pertick'ly lovely performance by Joel Verdin and Jos van Immerseel [1865 Alexandre harmonium and 1850 Erard piano] on the ricercar label - the Intégrale de l'oeuvre d' harmonium

[MickyD]

... there is a pertick'ly lovely performance by Joel Verdin and Jos van Immerseel [1865 Alexandre harmonium and 1850 Erard piano] on the ricercar label - the Intégrale de l'oeuvre d' harmonium

[Nick Armstrong]

... there is a pertick'ly lovely performance by Joel Verdin and Jos van Immerseel [1865 Alexandre harmonium and 1850 Erard piano] on the ricercar label - the Intégrale de l'oeuvre d' harmonium

Ah thank you. I have the harmonium/piano arrangement too, but played by Olivier Latry and Bertrand Chamayou, which I also like very much.

[Nick Armstrong]

And here for comparison is that Immerseel/Verdin performance:

A souffle slower, slightly 'larger' recording... more 'character' perhaps...

[Nick Armstrong]

The new Bach series featured on Saturday is such superlative value, as ever from Brilliant - and sounding absolutely excellent.

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Brilliant%2BClassics/94850BR

Under a tenner for over 5 hours of stunningly played and recorded music. This is a golden age.

[vinteuil]

The new Bach series featured on Saturday is such superlative value, as ever from Brilliant - and sounding absolutely excellent.

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Brilliant%2BClassics/94850BR

Under a tenner for over 5 hours of stunningly played and recorded music. This is a golden age.

... I agree. The only odd thing was that they didn't say that vols 2 and 3 are already out - I have ordered all three from amazon...

[Nick Armstrong]

... I agree. The only odd thing was that they didn't say that vols 2 and 3 are already out - I have ordered all three from amazon...

Ah?

I'm listening to vol 1 on lossless download as I write