Recommend an organ recital disc for the 'general listener'

[Alison]

I'm not really an expert on organs or organists but do enjoy an occasional
well recorded recital.

Any suggestions ?

[Mahlerei]

Hi Alison

Where to start? There are some excellent organ SACDs coming out of Finland (Fuga and Alba) but this one is rather special:

http://www.impressions.fi/Lakeuden%20Risti/Lakeuden%20Ristin%20urut%20SACD.html

[johnb]

It probably shows my lack of familiarity with the organ repertoire but the only composers whose organ music I enjoy are Bach and Messiaen. Most of the 19th century organ music I've heard has left me cold but perhaps it would be worth exploring, say, the French C20 organ composers?

[rauschwerk]

Peter Hurford's double CD of Romantic Organ Music, played on the splendid Ratzeburg Cathedral organ and really well recorded.

[Mahlerei]

johnb

All too often organ recordings come at you like a wall of sound, and instruments such as those by Cavaillé-Coll are inclined to wheeze and roar. That said, a carefully matched programme - organ and repertoire - can really pay dividends. The Goll at Memmingen is a marvellous modern instrument and it sounds superb in the Franck set from Audite (Hans Eberhard Ross). Similarly, Kiviniemi's Lakeuden Risti disc I mentioned earlier is a Kangasala with a unique sound. Well recorded such programmes and instruments have a presence that is quite remarkable; the extra 'air' and general ambient information possible with SACDs is perfect for organ recordings; I've heard many and almost without exception they are excellent.

The modern French school - including Naji Hakim and Pierre Escaich are well worth investigating; going back to the 20th century Messiaen and, a recent discovery for me, Sibelius's works for organ (the latter recorded by Kiviniemi as well). Petr Eben is also worth a listen. Really, there's a lot of quality stuff out there; unfortunately record companies still trot out the usual lollipops - Widor, Guilmant etc - and they are well past their sell-by date.

[Alison]

Thanks for those suggestions so far. I shall order them.

Here's one from me containing a quite wonderful piece by John Ireland as well as the
splendid Elgar Sonata. Outstanding musicianship from Mr Robinson.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Organ-Music-Carlisle-Cathedral-Robinson/dp/B000MZGW3C/ref=sr_1_6?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1305926930&sr=1-6

[rauschwerk]

...unfortunately record companies still trot out the usual lollipops - Widor, Guilmant etc - and they are well past their sell-by date.

That's as may be, but isn't that kind of repertoire what the general listener is looking for?

[doversoul]

I hardly know anything about organ music but I do like my Naxos disc I bought many years ago:

J.S Bach: Das Orgelbüchlein (The Little Organ Book) Wolfgang Rübsam

[Mahlerei]

That's as may be, but isn't that kind of repertoire what the general listener is looking for?

Quite possibly, but why ignore the less well known repertoire? There's good quality organ music out there and with the exception of a few niche labels -Oehms, Alba, Fuga, MDG - not much of it is being recorded. Regrettable, surely?

[Brassbandmaestro]

I have loads of organ recital cds, or quite a few, I should say.

There is a rather good recital by Peter Hurford on the Decca label, a two cder but reasonably priced. Although an all Romantic period cd, it is truly magnificent!Has the French Romantic school on it to, which is always good to hear!

There is also another ones that springs to mind and that is a series of cds by the organist Christopher Herrick, entitled 'Organ Fireworks'. This encompasses all periods and is a very good for the general listener too!

[kirkandrews]

Regent records have an excellent 'English Cathedral series'.....each one of currently 15 in the series has an interesting mix of repertoire, and are all brilliantly played and recorded. Most enjoyable.

[Brassbandmaestro]

Priory and Hyperion are very good companies at recording organ music.