OrganistOnTheHill Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 What are flamboyant showpieces for the organ? I've been listening to a lot of organ music recently, hopefully this thread can enlighten me with more organ delicacies! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emsgdh Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 I'll weigh-in on this one. There is a superb French toccata that very few people play. It's "Electa ut sol" by Dallier. The pedal theme is virtually unforgettable and, being in E-flat Major, a 32' reed is not necessary for success. I played it quite a bit over a five to ten-year period and always got raves for it. Karl Watson, Staten Island, NY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Drinkell Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 Some flamboyant pieces are among the great works for the instrument, but if you want to be thoroughly vulgar without having to practice too much, there's always Scotson Clark's "March aux Flambeaux", which you can find on IMSLP: https://imslp.org/wiki/15_Marches_for_Organ_(Clark%2C_Scotson) I rather like Herbert Chappell's "Songs of Praise", which was recorded at New College, Oxford, and used as the signature tune for the television programme for some years. Not hard to play, but very effective. A slightly breathless recording here: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dee Surtees Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 How about the Toccata "La vallée verte" sur le thème 'Pat le facteur' by Edward Marsh. (or, in English, Toccata "The Green Valley" on the theme of Postman Pat) A somewhat extraordinary piece written for Kevin Bowyer. It is recorded on Kevin's Organ Extravaganza! album, and the score is available here: https://www.scoreexchange.com/scores/2779.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Pykett Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 I suppose it depends on exactly how much flamboyance you want, but I've always found Nieland's 'Marche Triomphale' attractive to listen to and to play, and it's not too difficult either (probably around grade 6 or 7 I should think). I first came across it while still at school, and it might benefit from a more frequent airing over here, unlike in the Netherlands where almost everyone seems to know it. CEP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 What fascinating replies, I've discovered three pieces I didn't know already. I'm now wondering if the Marsh Toccata is within my grasp, but for the price of a cheap download I might well chance it... In the same spirit, a couple of favourites from me. I've recently discovered the Organists Charitable Little Organ Book, which includes two excellent pieces which aren't difficult and in my view is worth the tenner spent for these two alone. https://www.musicroom.com/product-detail/product711528/variant711528/organists-charitable-trust-little-organ-book/ One is Philip Moore's Paean - this performance is a touch on the slow side for my taste. The other is David Bednall's Fanfare-Processional, which frustratingly does not appear to be on YouTube, although if you have Spotify you will be able to find a recording. Neither is especially difficult, and the Bednall in particular is a stonking piece (ideally needs a solo reed). Not in that book but another favourite of mine is Ernest MacMillan's Cortege Academique - again ideally needs a solo reed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrganistOnTheHill Posted July 19, 2018 Author Share Posted July 19, 2018 4 hours ago, Philip said: What fascinating replies, I've discovered three pieces I didn't know already. I'm now wondering if the Marsh Toccata is within my grasp, but for the price of a cheap download I might well chance it... In the same spirit, a couple of favourites from me. I've recently discovered the Organists Charitable Little Organ Book, which includes two excellent pieces which aren't difficult and in my view is worth the tenner spent for these two alone. https://www.musicroom.com/product-detail/product711528/variant711528/organists-charitable-trust-little-organ-book/ One is Philip Moore's Paean - this performance is a touch on the slow side for my taste. The other is David Bednall's Fanfare-Processional, which frustratingly does not appear to be on YouTube, although if you have Spotify you will be able to find a recording. Neither is especially difficult, and the Bednall in particular is a stonking piece (ideally needs a solo reed). Not in that book but another favourite of mine is Ernest MacMillan's Cortege Academique - again ideally needs a solo reed. For Paean, what about this speed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vox Humana Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 OOTH, I am aware that you probably have an interest in the second performance, but I have to say that, personally, I find Kerry Beaumont's speed much more musical. What creates excitement is rhythm, impetus and élan/panache, not speed. Although there is such a thing as taking a piece too slowly, speed is not crucial to musical excitement. In fact, sometimes it can actually destroy it. One should always play principally for those who are not already acquainted with the music and it's worth remembering that such people may not be very quick on the uptake. People need time to assimilate what's going on musically. The faster you play, the less you may communicate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 20 hours ago, Vox Humana said: OOTH, I am aware that you probably have an interest in the second performance, but I have to say that, personally, I find Kerry Beaumont's speed much more musical. What creates excitement is rhythm, impetus and élan/panache, not speed. Although there is such a thing as taking a piece too slowly, speed is not crucial to musical excitement. In fact, sometimes it can actually destroy it. One should always play principally for those who are not already acquainted with the music and it's worth remembering that such people may not be very quick on the uptake. People need time to assimilate what's going on musically. The faster you play, the less you may communicate. At danger of this going off topic...I agree with Vox that fast isn't always better. That said, Kerry Beaumont's pace is a bit slow for my liking, but having just tried the suggested speed (quaver = 200-208) it sounds like he is fairly close to 200, so maybe I'm wrong! I have to admit when I started playing this piece I didn't check the metronome marking and just played it how it felt right. This was not in a building like Coventry Cathedral, of course. On the second performance (and I hope what follows doesn't offend!) I quite like it at the speed you get at about 1:50 (the return of the opening material). This to my ear is slower than the opening though, which I agree is too fast. The return of the opening material is, from my knowledge of the piece, also played more accurately, and I wonder if these factors are connected (for instance, the first chords of bars 1 and 2 both sound wrong to me - they should be the same as in bars 4 and 5 which sound right). You can find a preview of the first page online if you don't know the piece and wish to refer. Indeed, I actually listened to this recording but opted not to link to it, largely for these reasons. As a disclaimer, I'm no professional and I know my playing isn't 100% accurate by any means, but in a piece with this rhythmic crispness I think some slips can become quite obvious. But those chords at the end are delicious. Great piece! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vox Humana Posted July 20, 2018 Share Posted July 20, 2018 On 18/07/2018 at 15:36, emsgdh said: I'll weigh-in on this one. There is a superb French toccata that very few people play. It's "Electa ut sol" by Dallier. The pedal theme is virtually unforgettable and, being in E-flat Major, a 32' reed is not necessary for success. I played it quite a bit over a five to ten-year period and always got raves for it. Karl Watson, Staten Island, NY It's a bit of a devil to play though! I have to say that I love all five of Dallier's Cinq Invocations., which make a great alternative to Vierne's impressionism. No. 2, O clemens, O pia, is within even a modest player's grasp, very atmospheric and worth anyone's time. Vierne mentioned Dallier briefly in his memoirs, but clearly didn't like him. As for flamboyant pieces, this one is great fun but fiendishly difficult. This performance is super, but there's an even more jaw-dropping one by Roger Sayer at the Rochester Cathedral organ on a CD from Regent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrganistOnTheHill Posted July 20, 2018 Author Share Posted July 20, 2018 17 hours ago, Philip said: At danger of this going off topic...I agree with Vox that fast isn't always better. That said, Kerry Beaumont's pace is a bit slow for my liking, but having just tried the suggested speed (quaver = 200-208) it sounds like he is fairly close to 200, so maybe I'm wrong! I have to admit when I started playing this piece I didn't check the metronome marking and just played it how it felt right. This was not in a building like Coventry Cathedral, of course. On the second performance (and I hope what follows doesn't offend!) I quite like it at the speed you get at about 1:50 (the return of the opening material). This to my ear is slower than the opening though, which I agree is too fast. The return of the opening material is, from my knowledge of the piece, also played more accurately, and I wonder if these factors are connected (for instance, the first chords of bars 1 and 2 both sound wrong to me - they should be the same as in bars 4 and 5 which sound right). You can find a preview of the first page online if you don't know the piece and wish to refer. Indeed, I actually listened to this recording but opted not to link to it, largely for these reasons. As a disclaimer, I'm no professional and I know my playing isn't 100% accurate by any means, but in a piece with this rhythmic crispness I think some slips can become quite obvious. But those chords at the end are delicious. Great piece! On 19/07/2018 at 05:07, Philip said: What fascinating replies, I've discovered three pieces I didn't know already. I'm now wondering if the Marsh Toccata is within my grasp, but for the price of a cheap download I might well chance it... In the same spirit, a couple of favourites from me. I've recently discovered the Organists Charitable Little Organ Book, which includes two excellent pieces which aren't difficult and in my view is worth the tenner spent for these two alone. https://www.musicroom.com/product-detail/product711528/variant711528/organists-charitable-trust-little-organ-book/ One is Philip Moore's Paean - this performance is a touch on the slow side for my taste. The other is David Bednall's Fanfare-Processional, which frustratingly does not appear to be on YouTube, although if you have Spotify you will be able to find a recording. Neither is especially difficult, and the Bednall in particular is a stonking piece (ideally needs a solo reed). Not in that book but another favourite of mine is Ernest MacMillan's Cortege Academique - again ideally needs a solo reed. For Paean, what about this speed? I agree with you! The tempo at 1:50 is 'just' right! Not to slow or fast, its a steady but outgoing tempo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Cooke Posted July 21, 2018 Share Posted July 21, 2018 I wonder if this thread has led down a rather 'off piste' route to rather - (to me) - unfamiliar works. I wonder if OOTH was possibly looking that might expand from pieces such as these which, are more mainstream 'flamboyant' pieces that a young organist would do well to start getting their hands around or, at least, listen to. There is a considerable variety of difficulty in teh following list - many will be available on IMSLP. Martin. Vierne - Final in D (Symphony 1) Vierne - Carillon de Longpont Boellmann - Toccata from Suite Gothique Widor - Toccata Widor - Symphony 6 - various Mulet - Te es Petrus Mulet - Carillon Sortie Bonnet - Variations de Concert (is that right?? Dubois - Fiat Lux Dubois - Toccata Mushel - Toccata Percy Fletcher - Festival Toccata Leighton - Paean Howells - Psalm Prelude Set 2 No 3 Howells - Paean Gordon Jacob - Festal Flourish Myron Roberts - Hommage à Perotin Bruhns - P & F in E minor Quite a bit of Buxtehude - eg the big G minor piece and P & F in F sharp minor Lots of JSB - T & F in F, Pièce d'Orgue, for example Mozart - Fantasia in F minor Rheinberger - Finale from Sonata No 3 in G Messiaen - Dieu parmi nous Messiaen - Transports de joie Dupré - P & F in B major Lefebure-Wely - Sortie in E flat Smart - Postlude in D Reger - Toccata and Fugue in D minor Mathias - Jubilate and... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contrabombarde Posted July 23, 2018 Share Posted July 23, 2018 Here's a few more quite flamboyant and probably lesser known pieces, which are reasonably playable and whose scores are available on imslp: Otto Dienel (1839-1905) Concert-fuge in C minor, opus 1 William Ralph Driffill (1870-1922) Allegro Vivace from Suite No.2 in E minor Driffill also wrote a fine F minor toccata which appears more frequently on Youtube. Another fine toccata is that by Jules Grison, which has a motif loosely based on the fugue subject of BWV565 and demands the full resources of the organ over its meandering course: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dee Surtees Posted July 23, 2018 Share Posted July 23, 2018 1 hour ago, Contrabombarde said: Here's a few more quite flamboyant and probably lesser known pieces, which are reasonably playable and whose scores are available on imslp: Otto Dienel (1839-1905) Concert-fuge in C minor, opus 1 Thanks for sharing the Dienel. I love his chorale preludes, but have never come across this piece before. Definitely looks worth checking out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrganistOnTheHill Posted July 23, 2018 Author Share Posted July 23, 2018 Some of these pieces are wonderful! Thank you for sharing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zimbelstern Posted July 23, 2018 Share Posted July 23, 2018 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrganistOnTheHill Posted July 24, 2018 Author Share Posted July 24, 2018 16 hours ago, Zimbelstern said: Very nice! Flamboyant? Check! Technical? Check! Good for the ears? CHECK! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Pykett Posted July 29, 2018 Share Posted July 29, 2018 A few more to occupy a wet Sunday in England (with apologies if they have already been mentioned): Fantasia & Fugue in C minor, C P E Bach (Wq 119/7). Several renditions available on youtube e.g: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1foNnTJ1G2A Prelude & Fugue in E flat, Saint-Saens: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV7GkrFoUtI Marche Triomphale, W G Alcock. Not on youtube as far as I can see, in fact it's probably not particularly well known, but the sheet music seems to be widely downloadable (and good luck with it is all I can say!). Very 'Imperial' in style, almost Elgarian. It's the final track of Daniel Cook's CD of Alcock's organ music played at Salisbury cathedral (PRCD 1008). CEP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sprondel Posted July 31, 2018 Share Posted July 31, 2018 I love this one. A showpiece indeed, if rather an inverted-flamboyant one. https://www.dropbox.com/s/mwu1n68ezbvfb2o/02 Raitio_ Canzonetta.mp3?dl=0 All best wishes, Friedrich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zimbelstern Posted August 3, 2018 Share Posted August 3, 2018 Jean Guillou’s Saga No. 6 is certainly a show piece! There’s another YouTube video featuring Jean Guillou playing it himself while a dancer scales the walls of St. Eustache! https://youtu.be/VloFCpS7lNM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Oakley Posted August 4, 2018 Share Posted August 4, 2018 Thomas Ospital is scheduled to give recital in a fortnight's time (18th August) on the organ of the Victoria Hall, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, commencing at 12 noon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dee Surtees Posted August 6, 2018 Share Posted August 6, 2018 On 03/08/2018 at 20:51, Zimbelstern said: Jean Guillou’s Saga No. 6 is certainly a show piece! There’s another YouTube video featuring Jean Guillou playing it himself while a dancer scales the walls of St. Eustache! https://youtu.be/VloFCpS7lNM Well, the performance with the dancer is quite something. I'm led to believe that interpretive dance is all the rage as a form of worship in certain churches, though not the kind of churches that usually have pipe organs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dee Surtees Posted August 6, 2018 Share Posted August 6, 2018 A friend of mine recently introduced me to the music of René Louis Becker. The outer movements of his first sonata are certainly flamboyant. Here's the first movement, Preludium Festivum, played by Damin Spritzer: And here is the final toccata, played by Gert van Hoef: There is also a separate toccata, his opus 32, which is in a similar vein. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Cooke Posted August 7, 2018 Share Posted August 7, 2018 And the Becker Sonata No 1 is available on IMSLP - as are two other organ sonatas by him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbarber49 Posted August 7, 2018 Share Posted August 7, 2018 Though still in copyright, of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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