Brahms Symphony No.2 in D transcribed for organ by David Briggs

[Keraulophone]

https://www.facebook.com/595154785/videos/956630016536456/

David Briggs in concert last week on the recently reopened G.D.Harrison (1953) - E.M.Skinner (1911) organ of St John-the-Divine, New York, where he is Artist in Residence. Not all the stops are ready yet, notably the State Trumpets at the west end, but this famous organ is sounging glorious.

For those unconvinved by such organ transcriptions, Briggs says: 'I hope you’ll listen with a completely open mind - it’s not supposed to be a carbon copy of the orchestra, more of a recasting, but always based on the original spirit. Of course organs have developed colossally since 1877 when Brahms composed this magnum opus and we now have almost limitless control in terms of management of colour. My own sense is that the music has an equal emotional pull on the organ as with the original version, and especially in such an incredible acoustic as St John the Divine.'

I hope that even those not normally sold on organ recitals will give it a go, imagining that they are sitting in this huge building with the organ's colours amplified by the warm acoustic. Although only two-thirds completed, 'Big John' is the largest or second largest Anglican cathedral in the world.

More on the organ's revival: https://www.stjohndivine.org/music/cathedral-organs

[Pulcinella]

I'm certainly not convinced.
There's so much good organ music that rarely gets an outing, why on earth do the likes of Briggs and Lapwood have to resort to doing this.
I do realise that some listeners enjoy them, but Peter Grimes interludes at the expense of some Buxtehude or a Hindemith sonata? Not for me!

(Maybe this post should be on the Grumble Thread.)

[Keraulophone]

I'm certainly not convinced.
There's so much good organ music that rarely gets an outing

Grumbles are welcome, and expected!

As a (part-time) organist, I don't see that there is very much 'good organ music' with the exception of JSB and a handful of great French organ works. Certainly nothing to compare with any Brahms symphony. Pianists don't have this problem! I felt the same when I was learning the clarinet - apart from Mozart and Brahms, there are relatively few really good pieces written for the solo instrument.

I'll get my coat...

[Pulcinella]

Grumbles are welcome, and expected!

As a (part-time) organist, I don't see that there is very much 'good organ music' with the exception of JSB and a handful of great French organ works. Certainly nothing to compare with any Brahms symphony. Pianists don't have this problem! I felt the same when I was learning the clarinet - apart from Mozart and Brahms, there are relatively few really good pieces written for the solo instrument.

I'll get my coat...

Take a look at the voluntaries listed/scheduled here in York (I think they used to have more listed but maybe not): some decent stuff, I think you'll agree.

https://yorkminster.org/app/uploads/2025/02/3a-Scheme-9-February-15-March-2025-for-web.pdf

[Keraulophone]

Take a look at the voluntaries listed/scheduled here in York (I think they used to have more listed but maybe not): some decent stuff, I think you'll agree.

Aside from the masterpieces by JSB (one arr. Virgil Fox), the Couperin, Vierne and Howells are the only other voluntaries I would describe as 'good'. IMHO of course, but maybe a lifetime of listening toi less than great organ music has dulled my senses. OTOH I am not advocating a return to the days of Victorian Town Hall orchestral transcriptions making up most of a programme. It's just that I think that Brahms 2 and Bruckner 7, which I heard Briggs play for the first time in situ (and in the unexpected company of local resident Jessye Norman ), work unexpectedly well in his transcriptions alongside his evidently considerable performnce skills.

[Pulcinella]

Aside from the masterpieces by JSB (one arr. Virgil Fox), the Couperin, Vierne and Howells are the only other voluntaries I would describe as 'good'. IMHO of course, but maybe a lifetime of listening toi less than great organ music has dulled my senses. OTOH I am not advocating a return to the days of Victorian Town Hall orchestral transcriptions making up most of a programme. It's just that I think that Brahms 2 and Bruckner 7, which I heard Briggs play for the first time in situ (and in the unexpected company of local resident Jessye Norman ), work unexpectedly well in his transcriptions alongside his evidently considerable performnce skills.

There's no satisfying some folk (you and me both!).

[vinteuil]

some decent stuff, I think you'll agree.

... not enuff Lefébure-Wély

[Braunschlag]

I’m with Pulcinella. As a now retired organist I’ll certainly go along with his view that there really isn’t much first-rate organ music. JSB, some French repertoire, Reger possibly. I just can’t see the point of these ‘transcriptions’ at all. Not just Brahms but Mahler ?, Bruckner and the froth churned out by the Scott Bros and the other lady.

[Pulcinella]

... not enuff Lefébure-Wély

I'll mention it to the powers that be if I get the chance!

[Sir Velo]

Hmmm...I think Messiaen, Alkan, Franck, Liszt, Ligeti et al might all warrant a mention!

[Pulcinella]

I’m with Pulcinella. As a now retired organist I’ll certainly go along with his view that there really isn’t much first-rate organ music. JSB, some French repertoire, Reger possibly. I just can’t see the point of these ‘transcriptions’ at all. Not just Brahms but Mahler ?, Bruckner and the froth churned out by the Scott Bros and the other lady.

Not too sure I follow this....really isn't much first-rate organ music? That's not my view!

[Braunschlag]

Ok, maybe I was a little harsh there. I’d consider Alkan a little niche but yes to the others Sir Velo. Maybe what I wanted to say, without listing a whole list of composers, is that there is an awful lot of decidedly third-rate music which routinely finds its way into recital programmes. Rheinberger springs to mind, pedagogic and stodgy. I’m no fan of any of the Mendelssohn Sonatas, he wrote so much more that is way ahead in terms of quality. A few one - hit ‘not’ wonders, Britten Vittoria for instance. I could go on but I’ve sat through so many dull-as-dishwater recitals over the years that I became very choosy about attending- especially as so many fail to publish programmes in advance. Perhaps the most comatose was one given by an ex cathedral organist who programmed the entire Elgar Vesper Voluntaries, I’m not ashamed to say that I dozed off.

By the way- I confused Pulcinella’s post with Keraulophone. Apologies

[Pulcinella]

Ok, maybe I was a little harsh there. I’d consider Alkan a little niche but yes to the others Sir Velo. Maybe what I wanted to say, without listing a whole list of composers, is that there is an awful lot of decidedly third-rate music which routinely finds its way into recital programmes. Rheinberger springs to mind, pedagogic and stodgy. I’m no fan of any of the Mendelssohn Sonatas, he wrote so much more that is way ahead in terms of quality. A few one - hit ‘not’ wonders, Britten Vittoria for instance. I could go on but I’ve sat through so many dull-as-dishwater recitals over the years that I became very choosy about attending- especially as so many fail to publish programmes in advance. Perhaps the most comatose was one given by an ex cathedral organist who programmed the entire Elgar Vesper Voluntaries, I’m not ashamed to say that I dozed off.

By the way- I confused Pulcinella’s post with Keraulophone. Apologies

No worries: but the confusion also arose because you too seem not in favour of transcriptions whereas I don't think he is agin them per se!
:

[Finzi4ever]

Grumbles are welcome, and expected!

As a (part-time) organist, I don't see that there is very much 'good organ music' with the exception of JSB and a handful of great French organ works. Certainly nothing to compare with any Brahms symphony. Pianists don't have this problem! I felt the same when I was learning the clarinet - apart from Mozart and Brahms, there are relatively few really good pieces written for the solo instrument.

I'll get my coat...

"Ahem!" Gerald didn't do badly by the clarinet...

[Keraulophone]

"Ahem!" Gerald didn't do badly by the clarinet...

Probably my favourite compose for the clarinet... even the 'orchestral clarinet' stop in the organ intro to Lo, the full, final sacrifice ! Incidentally, when we did it with BBC NOW/Tod Handley, Mr Clarinet completely missed that entry... of course, it was all present and correct on the R3 broadcast a few weeks later!