Toccatina - Alphonse Schmitt

[giwro]

Alphonse Schmitt (1875-1912) was an Alsatian composer, student of Guilmant and Widor. He was organist at St. Philip-de-Roule in Paris, and composed several works for organ, including this Toccatina.

 

The piece really doesn't deserve such a diminutive title - it is a sparkling rollicking romp across the keys that always leaves me smiling

 

http://www.evensongmusic.net/audio/SchmittToccatina.mp3

HQ mp3 - 5.75mb

http://www.evensongmusic.net/audio/LQ/SchmittToccatina.mp3

LQ mp3 - 977kb

 

Enjoy,

 

- G

[Peter Clark]

Alphonse Schmitt (1875-1912) was an Alsatian composer, student of Guilmant and Widor. He was organist at St. Philip-de-Roule in Paris, and composed several works for organ, including this Toccatina.

 

The piece really doesn't deserve such a diminutive title - it is a sparkling rollicking romp across the keys that always leaves me smiling

 

http://www.evensongmusic.net/audio/SchmittToccatina.mp3

HQ mp3 - 5.75mb

http://www.evensongmusic.net/audio/LQ/SchmittToccatina.mp3

LQ mp3 - 977kb

 

Enjoy,

 

- G

 

I agree! Thanks for posting it - where do I get the score? (Like other here, I too thirst for more obscure music!)

 

Peter

[Jim Treloar]

giwro,

 

Yes, obviously a piece that deserves to be heard again. Can you tell us which organ the recording is on please?

An additional query for anybody - can someone tell me anything about Franz Schmitt (indeed, any relation?) not Schmidt, by the way, I first heard his Psalm 47 on Radio 3 a while back and I was impressed, unfortunately the record they played is no longer listed and I can't find any other recording. Another performance appeared on R3 a few months later by the Nat. Orch of Wales plus choir, but these are the only occasions I've heard it.

[Guest Lee Blick]

I agree! Thanks for posting it - where do I get the score? (Like other here, I too thirst for more obscure music!)

 

Peter

 

The melody sounds like a WWI or II war song

[giwro]

I agree! Thanks for posting it - where do I get the score? (Like other here, I too thirst for more obscure music!)

 

Peter

 

Peter,

 

There is an online source for the score - you can get either a PDF or hard copy... you can also see a preview of some of the pages:

 

http://www.lulu.com/browse/preview.php?fCID=816450

 

Glad you enjoyed the recording!

 

Cheers,

 

- G

[Peter Clark]

The melody sounds like a WWI or II war song

 

Is that a good or a bad thing, Lee?

 

Peter

[giwro]

giwro,

 

Yes, obviously a piece that deserves to be heard again. Can you tell us which organ the recording is on please?

 

Well.....

 

This was done on Hauptwerk software using a number of stops I've put together from various sources in an attempt to emulate the sound of a Cavaille-Coll. IMHO it's mostly successful, although I'd wish for genuine C-C samples someday - the effect would be more convincing, I think.

 

Cheerio,

 

-G