Clavecin Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 Heard this piece played at Blackburn Cathedral last Wednesday by Jonathan Vaughn (Assistant at Wells). It is a transcription by Lionel Rogg and published by UMP of Liszt's 2nd Légende for piano about St Francis de Paola walking on the waves (the 1st is about St Francis of Assisi preaching to the birds). This formed the centre-piece of Jonathan's excellent recital, it makes a pretty spectacular organ piece (on a suitable instrument in a suitable acoustic of course; Blackburn ticks both boxes here). I had a look at Jonathan's score afterwards, it looks a bit more difficult than BACH and Ad Nos, but I would guess that the piano original would be even more difficult! Jonathan must have put a lot of hours into this to get it to such a standard. There are plenty of piano performances on Youtube, but no organ ones. Has anyone else come across this? DT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJJ Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 Heard this piece played at Blackburn Cathedral last Wednesday by Jonathan Vaughn (Assistant at Wells). It is a transcription by Lionel Rogg and published by UMP of Liszt's 2nd Légende for piano about St Francis de Paola walking on the waves (the 1st is about St Francis of Assisi preaching to the birds). This formed the centre-piece of Jonathan's excellent recital, it makes a pretty spectacular organ piece (on a suitable instrument in a suitable acoustic of course; Blackburn ticks both boxes here). I had a look at Jonathan's score afterwards, it looks a bit more difficult than BACH and Ad Nos, but I would guess that the piano original would be even more difficult! Jonathan must have put a lot of hours into this to get it to such a standard. There are plenty of piano performances on Youtube, but no organ ones. Has anyone else come across this? DT I think Nicolas Kynaston plays it - and possibly Peter King down here in Bath - 'not sure whose version though. A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolsey Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 It's also one of Jane Parker-Smith's concert party pieces, however, she doesn't appear to have recorded it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinstanley Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 Gillian Weir plays it a lot and gave a thrilling account in St Paul's a couple of years ago. She has recorded it at the RAH on Priory 859. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Allison Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 And I am pretty sure Kevin Bowyer has recorded it in Blackburn, or something very similar, its on the "storm" cd Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oscar_rook Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 In addition to Nicolas Kynaston at Altenberg Cathedral and Gillian Weir at the RAH, there are at least two more recordings: Péter Sírak on the Mander organ at Nagasaki Cathedral and Léonce de Saint-Martin at Notre Dame de Paris in 1953. Regards Oscar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyorgan Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 And I am pretty sure Kevin Bowyer has recorded it in Blackburn, or something very similar, its on the "storm" cdPeter I have the cd, it is this one and its very good. I once met KB shortly after this was released and he told me there was enough 'storm' music for at least another cd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Allison Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 I have the cd, it is this one and its very good. I once met KB shortly after this was released and he told me there was enough 'storm' music for at least another cd. Yes, thats the one, infact I have just put it on my hard drive, and am listening to it now. It is. as you say, "very good" Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinstanley Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 The version on the Kevin Bowyer CD appears to be an arrangement by Reger whereas the DGW performance is the Lionel Rogg version. In the CD notes David Gammie comments "in his preface to his more recent transcription (1988) Lionel Rogg justifiably suggests the end result sounds more like Reger than Liszt; in this new version he has tried to remain as faithful as possible to the original score, taking insparation from Liszt's own style of writing for the organ". I have not heard the Reger version so cannot comment further. I beleive the Léonce de Saint-Martin CD mentioned earlier is yet another arrangement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MusingMuso Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 I have a bit of an aversion to storms; not just because I heard Reginald Dixon playing one on the Tower Ballroom, Wurlitzer as a lad. The main reason is, that when I was in America, I rather follishly thought it a good idea to have a bit of first-hand experience of a heavy-wind obligato, and promptly went for a walk around Provincetown, (at the end of Cape Cod), in a category 5. This was not a good idea, for a number of reasons. a) 120mph winds garbage cans flying through the air c) having to hang on to lamp-posts d) having my hair-style destroyed in an instant (I had hair then) e) almost getting swept out to sea by 30ft waves Could I therefore make a plea for a weather forecast prior to any organ-recitals? I would hate to vomit on the floor mid-storm, no matter how good the programme or performance. MM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinstanley Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 Found this (arr. Reger): I think I prefer the real thing as played by Horowitz: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clavecin Posted January 19, 2010 Author Share Posted January 19, 2010 The version on the Kevin Bowyer CD appears to be an arrangement by Reger whereas the DGW performance is the Lionel Rogg version. In the CD notes David Gammie comments "in his preface to his more recent transcription (1988) Lionel Rogg justifiably suggests the end result sounds more like Reger than Liszt; in this new version he has tried to remain as faithful as possible to the original score, taking insparation from Liszt's own style of writing for the organ". I have not heard the Reger version so cannot comment further. I beleive the Léonce de Saint-Martin CD mentioned earlier is yet another arrangement. From the look of the Rogg score I would agree. The distinctive pedal writing and much of the left hand was very similar to the Sandor Margittay edition of 'BACH' which I use. (p.s. thanks for the pdf files!) David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 Richard Pilliner played it at Southwark Cathedral this month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DouglasCorr Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 Found this (arr. Reger): I think I prefer the real thing as played by Horowitz: Me too!! This organ version takes nearly twice as long ! Lucky it takes a lot to kill a great musical idea.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msw Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 I think Nicolas Kynaston plays it - and possibly Peter King down here in Bath - 'not sure whose version though. A I believe PK has a recording in the can (Gary Cole's at Regent Records, to be exact) using the Reger transcription. "Liszt in Bath" (not my title) will also include BACH, Ad nos, Weinen Klagen, Evocation a la Chappelle Sixtine, St Francis preaching to the Birds (arr. Saint-Saens) and various smaller pieces. You'll be hard pressed to find a better organ or building for Liszt than the Klais of Bath Abbey! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinstanley Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 Another arrangement by Louis Robilliard in addition to Rogg and Reger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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