giwro

Do PM me with the title of the Kromolicki - I sent Jane some scores awhile back and am willing to bet this might have been one of them! Best, - G

Horace Wadham Nicholl (1848-1922) was an English organist who emigrated to the USA. He wrote a number of Preludes and Fugues, among them this one in C, a fine piece. Prelude and Fugue in C Enjoy! -G

I met a Jewish chap here in the USA back in 1993 - he was as yet too young to be inducted into the armed forces back during WWII, but old enough (and good enough) to play as a substitute organist for services in one of the cathedrals in England... can't remember if it was Durham, Norwich or what... He and I had quite a nice time exchanging stories, and he and his wife even came to hear me play one Sunday... we lost touch after a few years, but I was always fascinated by his tales. - G

Thanks, Bernard - I'll drop you an email! (and thanks to this board for your help - the internet can be such a good resource sometimes!) - G

Thanks all for trying to help - The email address given is the one I've tried... no joy. I'd certainly like to get my hands on either scores or recordings for the Book, but I'm not going to start in with international calls to try to do so... I'll include what information I can glean from the website and Henderson's book. May you all play well in the coming Marathon Week - G

<sigh> I was really hoping that someone here could help... maybe everyone's too busy getting ready for the Big Week. Oh well.. -G

Greetings, friends.... As I continue my survey of Solo Organ Symphonies, I have come across the music of Bernard Heyes, who has written 10 solo Symphonies for organ. I was able to contact him once, but I've never received any further communications or responses to my emails. I'd like to purchase some of his recordings and scores as part of my study - I'd even like to promote his work here in the USA, since it sounds like he's written some interesting music. (as far as I can tell from the clips on his site: http://www.heyes.fslife.co.uk/ ) In these days of over-zealous spam filters, I wonder if perhaps my emails have never reached him - I've heard that sort of thing _does_ happen on occasion. At any rate, if there is someone who might be willing to try and contact him for me either by email or by telephone, I'd be most grateful. You can contact me via PM here on the forum... Furthermore, do pop over to his site http://www.heyes.fslife.co.uk/ and have a look - it appears there are some interesting works there. Thanks, - G

Everyone welcome Simon, a top-drawer organist and right decent fellow. Nice to have you here, sir! - G

Actually, I think it was some of both.... I find that both Sym. 7 and 8 (both of which are infrequently performed) are much more cohesive than all that have come before. I also think that in addition to that "refining" of style Widor also chose to write 9 and 10 more intentionally in service to sacred music. The wonderful thing is, they still make wonderful concert works as well! G

I'll add my plea here.... As much as we revere Vierne and Widor, there are MANY other composers of Symphonic Organ works - my research has discovered over 200 examples of the solo organ Symphony, I daresay most organists would be hard-pressed to name any other composers than Widor, Vierne and Dupré who have composed Symphonie(s) for organ. Through the dint of hard work, the kindness of many colleagues and years of persistence, I've managed to locate many scores and recordings of these works, some of them, alas as yet unpublished. What amazes me, is that often the "unknown" Symphonies are the most cohesive of the lot... it's almost as if Widor was able to sell based on his reputation, not on the overall quality or suitableness of the works when taken as a collection. I agree the Vierne (and the Dupré 2nd Symphonie) "work" better as complete entities than most of the Widor, although (for me) Widor #9 and 10 (Gothique and Romane) are possibly 2 of my most favorite works, and I think they "work" very well indeed, and are quite cohesive. I'm actually beginning to write down the results of my research now, and I'll share more (most likely in another thread specifically dedicated to the subject) as I work my way through the information I have gathered. If anyone is interested in specific examples or further information, I'd be pleased to discuss, Thanks - G

hmmm... I might be odd, but I like to do Alain's "Choral Dorien" on Ash Wednesday... it's been a few years, but I think I'll pull it out again... Some of my upcoming Lenten service music: - Langlais prelude on "There is a Fountain Filled with Blood" - Bingham "Go to Dark Gethsemane" - Wood "The Old Rugged Cross" - Karg-Elert "Christ, Thou Lamb of God" I'm just now filling out my music schedule until Easter... I must say I am enjoying the opportunity to play more substantial stuff again... my last post not many really seemed to care, so I gave up and resorted to improv-o-doodle most of the time. This congregation is far more musically aware, and not only enjoys good music, they expect it. Some may think it in poor taste, but I'm seriously thinking of doing Faulkes "Hosanna" on Palm Sunday... I've always wanted to do it, and I finally have an instrument that I want to try it on. Easter closing voluntary will probably be Daniel Gawthrop's "Toccata Brevis"... I would love to do Widor, and even toyed with Paponaud's Toccata (and read through a bit of it today), but alas, my technique is still recovering from 10 years of disuse. I am pulling out the Koraal from Peeter's Suite Modale this Sunday - I've always wanted to play this in public, never have done it. I'll stop rambling now.... - G

A merry Christmas to all of you - Deo Gratias, I survived 3 Christmas Eve services at my new post last night... Peace, - G

Every year about this time I send out a special installment of my free mp3 series, a Christmas-themed piece. Past years have included such pieces as a Fugue on "We Wish you a Merry Christmas", a baroque c.p. on "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and so on, as well as renditions of traditional carols and music evocative of the season. This year I bring you Eugene Thayer's "Variations on the Sicilian Carol" Enjoy, and best of the season to you all! - G

Some wild stuff from Raphael Fumet, indeed. I first heard of this composer 6-7 years ago, and was quite taken with his works. You can order his Toccata HERE His father Dynam-Victor also wrote a lot of organ music - I've got a CD of some of it, and it is wonderful stuff... kind of Franck-ish (but better in spots, IMHO). Music of both father and son can be ordered from http://www.editions-delatour.com/ Just put Fumet in the "rechercher" (search) box, and the available works will come up (many available as inexpensive PDF downloads) Cheers, - G

Thanks for this... I note that Rolande's daughter seems to have begun to edit and issue a number of her mother's works... I'm pleased that is happening - it really is interesting music. Out of the 74 opus numbers, it seems less than half are available, even fewer have been recorded. Cheers, - G

...it was said of Dupré that his piano professor lamented over Marcel's desire to pursue organ rather than piano - I believe he said something to the effect that "alas, the world has been deprived of one of it's greatest pianists" Cheers, -G

- Lovelock's Symphonie Concertante is a stunning piece - every bit as good as the Jongen, IMHO - Günter Raphael wrote a concerto for Organ, strings 3 tpt and timp that is also quite nice (closes with a fugue on "Ein Feste Burg") - The Eben concerto has been mentioned - his Symphonia Gregoriana for O+O is much more accessible (lush beautiful sounds prevail - quite unlike some of his later works) - If you've not heard the Sowerby Concertos (esp. the one in C) you are missing a treat - great stuff. - Daniel Gawthrop has written a fine concerto - I think one can hear it on Organlive streaming radio - The Whitlock Sym. for O+O doesn't hang together as well as some pieces, but it _is_ a neat work, and has some nice moments. - I'm working on an organ cto - I hope it will be effective :angry: and deserve attention **** As for arrangements for O+O of stuff, there are tons of those out there - as are there orchestrations of organ music... (reverse transcription?). I'm sure I'll think of more works, but for now, those come to mind... Cheers, - G

<chuckle> Perhaps I _should_! Maybe at some point I'll delve into the concept some more and try to get a publisher or two to give the idea a try. I did at one point try to get a publisher interested in having audio clips on their webpage - the gentleman I spoke with was intrigued, but not enough to follow up on the idea with the chain of command up the ladder. This one example surely supports what you've been saying all along - that traditional publishers insular tendencies prevent them from exploring better models - they tend to stick with "the way it's always been done". Perhaps someday it will change... perhaps I can be a part of that process - we'll see! Best, - G

I doubt I'll get rich anytime soon.... The point is that I _do_ make something off of this (rather than it costing me to do it). The business model that I've adopted allows me to publish pretty much whatever I want and not risk financial loss. The caveat is that I don't have the advertising budget that a large publishing house has, so it is harder to get customers to my door or ever KNOW that I have music to sell. If larger publishers could be convinced to use a print on demand service in exchange for a smaller return, at least they would be making some money rather than having dusty single last copies that never get sold. I think someone would need to set up the process for them, though, since most publishers have no desire to invest in the equipment and personnel necessary to do this on their own. As for the rare Polish/E European stuff.... bring it on! I've been unsuccessfully trying to get copies of all of Feliks Nowowiejski's Organ symphonies, so far I've only managed to track down ONE (Sym.8) Cheers, - G

I'll quote MM here, but reply to both him and Cynic - In my little publishing adventure, I found that 2 things VERY much positively affected my sales: 1 - having mp3 demos/sample pages for most of the pieces 2 - accepting credit cards Most of us won't buy something we've not seen unless we've HEARD it, like many of you I'd like to be able to both hear and see. Traditional publishers have yet (most all of them, anyway) to embrace the audio demo route (a shame, since it really would help them make the transition) As Cynic states (albeit with a little hyperbole) publishing your own stuff is not something one does to make a load of money... you have to do some marketing and write easier stuff if you want to do that!. Sales figures of my own stuff bear out this concept - 2 of my works that I consider to be "meatier" or of more musical substance (Toccata-Flourish & Fugue on Wachet Auf and Toccata and Fugue in Gm) are consistently outsold by my hymn arrangements and Steve Best's suites/collections. There's just not as much market demand for serious concert music as there is easier service music. I think that someday the <smart> traditional publishers will "get it" - folks like Editions Delatour are experimenting with lower-cost downloadable PDF editions and the like, and they seem to be doing a nice business so far. (and I have a special place in my heart for them, since they've recently released more music of Demessieux and Falcinelli) Best, - G

So now that I have more time to practice (and a church that appreciates good organ music), I've been dusting off a number of things that I've either always wanted to play, or haven't played in years. Last week I pulled out René Blin's "Rosace", and found to my joy that 3 manuals and a GT-CH manual transfer makes the French stuff FAR easier <chuckle> The Rosace (Rose Window)is subtitled en violet dans la pénombre du soir (I think that's loosely "Purple in the dark of twilight" or something like that). A lovely piece - I've never heard it played in public or on recording. In another post MM decries the loss of repertoire availability due to publishers not "getting with the times"... this is one case where that rings true, since the piece is no longer in print, nor is it available (although it is in Public Domain in my country). Have a listen to it HERE if you are curious (apologies for the recording quality) Cheers, - Giwro

Drop me a PM - I have the entire score in PDF on my hard drive, as I hunted down a copy as part of my research for my Organ Symphonie book. Best, - G

I have the Labounsky book - it is a good read (and chock-full of information!). I've also had the pleasure to meet Dr. Labounsky and take part in an improvisation class she taught... she's a delightful woman and a fine organist. Best, - G

Thanks! -G

So far I find the staff and clergy are a dream to work with - we had a program staff retreat earlier this week to get to know each other better and do some planning and dreaming for the future. Everyone so far has been kind and helpful as we settle into a new town, new state and new job... I've now had 3 choir rehearsals, and am still in awe at the talent I have at my disposal... my last choir didn't always read so well (and to be honest, some members were getting on in years). The average age here is about 20-30 years younger, and I have a LOT more good sight-readers, so we go very quickly from notes and rhythm almost directly to interpretation... it's very musically satisfying. I have 2 very talented keyboardists in the choir, so that encourages me to work harder at my organ and piano skills... I want to earn their respect, so I need to spend plenty of hours at the console getting my "chops" back up to speed.... I spent a couple of hours the other day slogging through the Final to Widor's 2nd, and was pleased that even after 12-13 years, I still remember a good bit of it! Thanks for the welcome back! - G