Widor: Organ Symphonies Nos. 5 & 7

1. Symphony No. 5 in F minor for organ, Op. 42/1
Composed by Charles-Marie Widor
with Jane Parker-Smith

2. Symphony No. 7 in A minor for organ, Op. 42/3
Composed by Charles-Marie Widor
with Jane Parker-Smith

Widor: Organ Symphonies Nos. 5 & 7,Charles-Marie Widor,Jane Parker-Smith,Asv Living Era,Classical,Classical Composers,Classical Music,Keyboard,Music for Keyboard

Average customer rating: There's got to be limits Great sound! PESIMO SONIDO

Widor: Organ Symphonies Nos. 5 & 7 Manufacturer: Asv Living Era ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Classical | Styles | Music Similar Items: Widor: Organ Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2 Widor: Organ Symphonies 3 & 6 Louis Vierne: Complete Organ Symphonies ASIN: B0000030WE Release Date: 1996-01-23

Tracks:

1. Symphony No.5 in F minor - Allegro vivace
2. Allegro cantabile
3. Andantino quasi allegretto
4. Adagio
5. Toccata (Allegro)
6. Symphony No.7 in A minor - Moderato
7. Choral (Andante)
8. Andante
9. Allegro ma non troppo
10. Lento
11. Finale (Allegro vivace)

Customer Reviews:

There's got to be limits.......2007-06-07

This CD includes probably the second most popular organ piece in the world, Toccata, Op. 42. I would rate Bachs Toccata and Fugue in D minor as the most poular one.

Anyway, there's no doubt that Jane Parker-Smith is an incredible performer, but just listen to the tempo she uses in the mentioned Toccata: She's playing so fast, you dont have the chance to do it articulated. This is entirely against Widors will. In his days, he was pleased with the success this single piece gave him, but he was not at all happy about those who played the piece too fast. Like Parker-Smith indeed does on this recording.

Of course, this is a brilliant recording, nice sound quality, and I'm sure many Widor fans would like to add this one to their collection, but I wouldn't have done it.

Great sound!.......2005-05-15

You know...the organ in St.Eustache, Paris, is one of the greatest and powerful in the world and one of the most difficult to record. I've been many times in this gothic church and I've listened the organ in concert and during masses and funerals. Be sure, this is one of the finest recording of this incredible instrument. If you got a sub-woofer...be careful to your windows!
Jane parker-Smith is a real wizard at the consolle. This CD is a joy for all Widor fans!
So, I can't agree with the other customer.

PESIMO SONIDO.......2001-02-01

Tenga mucho CUIDADO!!! Este disco de las hermosas Sinfonías de Ch. M. Widor, tiene un sonido PESIMO. Se escucha el Organo como si usted estuviera en la plaza y la música se tocara dentro de la Catedral.

La interpretación no puedo juzgarla pues el audio es tan malo que la verdad es que a los pocos minutos de poner el disco, lo interrumpí por el pobre sonido de éste disco Asv. Trate de encontrar estas buenas obras en otra interpretación.

Average customer rating:

Widor: Organ Symphonies Nos. 5 & 6 Manufacturer: Guild ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music ASIN: B000GCGACE Release Date: 2006-10-24

Average customer rating: Outstanding A good CD, but could be better. Phenomenal Recording

Organs of Duke Chapel Manufacturer: Gothic Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Handel | Handel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Karg-Elert, Sigfrid | ( K ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Walton | Walton, Sir William | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Marches | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Variations | Variations | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Organ | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music Cantatas | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music ASIN: B000003J9Q Release Date: 1997-03-18

Tracks:

1. Praise the Lord with Drums and Cymbals
2. Sinfonia from Cantata No. 29
3. Grand Choeur dialogue
4. Hymn to Joy
5. Rondeau
6. Variations on Simple Gifts
7. Fantasy in G major
8. Water Music: Allegro Maestoso from the Water Music
9. Water Music: Minuet and Trio from the Water Music
10. In dir ist Freude (In thee is gladness)
11. Meditation on Adoro te devote
12. Les Cloches de Hinckley
13. Crown Imperial
14. Toccata from Symphony No. 5

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding.......2004-09-09

This is an outstanding CD of the two large organs of Duke Chapel. The Aeolian organ is very orchestral while the Flentrop organ is modeled after typical Dutch organs. I especially enjoyed the first three selections. The Grand Choeur is very well performed, and so is the Sinfonia to Cantata 29. However, there are times when it seems that the organ is a bit too powerful. I also enjoyed the performer's arrangement of "In thee is Gladness". I would recommend this CD to anyone who enjoys listening to organ music or anyone who visits the chapel in person but does not get the opportunity to hear the organs in person!

A good CD, but could be better........2002-11-13

I felt that the pieces played on the Flentrop organ were really nice, a testament to that famous Dutch organbuilder, but the pieces played on the Aeolian organ did not live up to my expectations. I think it might have been a bad placement of the microphones or the wrong type. It was an interesting contrast between the two organs but I felt that the Aeolian was not up to the challenge. I also did not like the final piece, the Toccata by Widor. This piece is played frequently and as such many organ lovers here it many, many times. Consequently, I think I have become an expert as to which recordings are good and which are bad. The Flentrop is a large organ but was not constructed with French Romantic music in mind and so really sounds out of place, especially in the pedal department. With out any 32' stops and manual stop action, as well as not being voiced in the French style, it is kind of hard to get the correct effect. A good CD, but could be better.

Phenomenal Recording.......2000-08-21

Gothic's reputation for wonderful recordings of church music, particularly organ music, will only be enhanced by this CD of music by Duke organist David Arcus. Dr. Arcus's excellent improvisational skills shine through in this unique and diverse combination of organ pieces, including a few of his own arrangements.

Dr. Arcus brings forth the best qualities of each instrument as well, and playfully interprets oft-recited pieces to give them newness and to emphasize the genius of their composers.

I have innumerable organ recordings, including most of the best recitalists of the twentieth century, but this is truly the best.

Average customer rating: Tour de Force Review of CM Widor Organ Symphonies by Kaunzinger

Widor: The Organ Symphonies, Nos.1-10 Manufacturer: Novalis ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music ASIN: B000001MQJ Release Date: 1994-12-08

Tracks:

1. Org Sym No.1 in c, Op.13,1: Moderato
2. Org Sym No.1 in c, Op.13,1: Allegretto
3. Org Sym No.1 in c, Op.13,1: Intermezzo
4. Org Sym No.1 in c, Op.13,1: Adagio
5. Org Sym No.1 in c, Op.13,1: Marche Pontificale
6. Org Sym No.1 in c, Op.13,1: Meditation
7. Org Sym No.1 in c, Op.13,1: Finale
8. Org Sym No.2 in D, Op.13,2: Prld
9. Org Sym No.2 in D, Op.13,2: Pastorale
10. Org Sym No.2 in D, Op.13,2: Andante
11. Org Sym No.2 in D, Op.13,2: Salve Regina
12. Org Sym No.2 in D, Op.13,2: Adagio
13. Org Sym No.2 in D, Op.13,2: Finale

Tracks:

1. Org Sym No.3 in e, Op.13,3: Prld
2. Org Sym No.3 in e, Op.13,3: Minuetto
3. Org Sym No.3 in e, Op.13,3: Marcia
4. Org Sym No.3 in e, Op.13,3: Adagio
5. Org Sym No.3 in e, Op.13,3: Finale
6. Org Sym No.4 in f, Op.13,4: Toccata
7. Org Sym No.4 in f, Op.13,4: Fugue
8. Org Sym No.4 in f, Op.13,4: Andante Cantabile
9. Org Sym No.4 in f, Op.13,4: Scherzo
10. Org Sym No.4 in f, Op.13,4: Adagio
11. Org Sym No.4 in f, Op.13,4: Finale

Tracks:

1. Org Sym No.5 in f, Op.42,1: Allegro Vivace
2. Org Sym No.5 in f, Op.42,1: Allegro Cantabile
3. Org Sym No.5 in f, Op.42,1: Andantino Quasi Allegretto
4. Org Sym No.5 in f, Op.42,1: Adagio
5. Org Sym No.5 in f, Op.42,1: Toccata. Allegro
6. Org Sym No.6 in g, Op.42,2: Allegro
7. Org Sym No.6 in g, Op.42,2: Adagio
8. Org Sym No.6 in g, Op.42,2: Intermezzo. Allegro
9. Org Sym No.6 in g, Op.42,2: Cantabile
10. Org Sym No.6 in g, Op.42,2: Finale. Vivace

Tracks:

1. Org Sym No.7 in a, Op.42,3: Moderato
2. Org Sym No.7 in a, Op.42,3: Choral
3. Org Sym No.7 in a, Op.42,3: Allegretto
4. Org Sym No.7 in a, Op.42,3: Allegro Ma Non Troppo
5. Org Sym No.7 in a, Op.42,3: Lento
6. Org Sym No.7 in a, Op.42,3: Finale. Allegro Vivace
7. Org Sym No.8 in B, Op.42,4: Allegro Risoluto
8. Org Sym No.8 in B, Op.42,4: Moderato Cantabile
9. Org Sym No.8 in B, Op.42,4: Allegro
10. Org Sym No.8 in B, Op.42,4: Vars
11. Org Sym No.8 in B, Op.42,4: Adagio
12. Org Sym No.8 in B, Op.42,4: Finale

Tracks:

1. Org Sym No.9 in c, Op.70: Moderato
2. Org Sym No.9 in c, Op.70: Andante Sostenuto
3. Org Sym No.9 in c, Op.70: Allegro
4. Org Sym No.9 in c, Op.70: Moderato (Var)
5. Org Sym No.10 in B, Op.73 'Sym Romane': Moderato
6. Org Sym No.10 in B, Op.73 'Sym Romane': Choral. Adagio
7. Org Sym No.10 in B, Op.73 'Sym Romane': Cantilene. Lento
8. Org Sym No.10 in B, Op.73 'Sym Romane': Finale. Allegro

Amazon.com

Widor was a very fine composer generally. Today he's recognized only for his organ music, but he also composed some first-rate orchestral music, with and without organ, that deserves to be better known. This set of the ten symphonies for organ solo is played with incomparable brilliance and recorded with spectacular impact. These are not symphonies in the classical sense, but suites of pieces assembled for maximum variety and character. The final toccata from the Fifth Symphony is probably the most famous single organ piece since Bach, and the quality of Widor's invention throughout is extremely high. Even people who don't normally like organ music should enjoy this. Special price too. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Tour de Force.......2003-03-08

I contradict myself when I praise this set as the "best" right after granting the van Oosten set the same adjective. But they are different, in both approach and interpretation so perhaps I can be excused for this slight indescretion.

Widor was one of those manic-depressives who would remain idle for long periods of time then composer feverishly, without pause, until he was exhausted. He was one of the multitude of French Romantic composers that evolved along with a new breed of organ. The 10 Symphonies can be divided into three distinct eras: (1) The first three, good but not great, (2) The next five, at the height of his powers and (3) The last two, grand, serious introspective works. The Eighth in B Flat Major is sometimes known as the "Bridge" Symphony because it allegedly spans the last two phases. Personally, I consider it the pinnacle of Romanticism.

This is a magnificent performance. Just being able to play the Symphonies is an accomplishment in itself. But this level of musicianship is on an order unto itself. One is enthralled by the lush, rich sounds emerging from this recording. Listening to this is like entering another world in which sound has been amplified and refined to new heights. One could only hope that Widor had written 20 symphonies!!!

Review of CM Widor Organ Symphonies by Kaunzinger.......2002-01-01

This is a tough recording to review, given the fact that the last recording of ALL 10 Widor organ symphonies was sold at least 30 years ago, and is long out of circulation. But, this is an excellent recording, high sould quality (you can occaisonally hear the stops), and excellent playing on the part of Kaunzinger. The only item of note that keeps me from giving this a 5 star review is that Kaunzinger plays some of the movements a little 'strangely', comparied to how they're written.

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