The Organ, Master of them all - general organ thread

[prémont]

Enjoying Mikkelsen's Grigny mass this afternoon - partly because of the singing, which I remember not liking when it was released, but which now seems to work very nicely. I think I prefer Mikkelsen to Coudurier on the same organ - Coudurier grand and noble but somehow Mikkelsen seems to capture a bit of introspection, prayerfulness.

Mikkelsen recorded Grigny (for CDklassisk) on the Isnard organ, Saint Maximin, Provence. Coudurier recorded Grigny (for BNL) on the historic organ of Cintegabelle. So not the same organ.

But Pierre Bardon has recorded the Grigny Messe and Hymns (for Pierre Verany) on the Isnard organ and Isoir has recorded the Hymns on the Isnard organ (for Calliope). Coudurier has recorded some Marchand and Bach on the Isnard organ (for BNL).

[Roasted Swan]

I picked this disc up as part of the Chandos Winter sale;



I'm a sucker for this kind of large-scale spectacular organ music.  Especially when presented on the mighty Willis organ in Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral.  Yes of course the huge acoustic there blurs some orchestral detail and gives the Chandos engineers and producer a bit of a nightmre to create a coherent and well-balanced disc.  But the result is about as good as it could be - finding a good compromise between the space/instrument involved and the needs of domestic listening.  Of course Ian Tracey's playing is superb and the BBC PO are reliably skilled accompanists.  Great fun.

[Mandryka]

Predictably tough performances from Mr Bennett but the programme is interesting and the organ at Sassenheim is fabulous - just not ideally recorded. So tough a performance, and so unsympathetically recorded, that I gave up after about 20 minutes.

https://editionsgrandier.bandcamp.com/album/mannerism-organ-music-from-1550-1650

Peter van Dijk recorded some of his NM Sweelinck at Sassenheim.

[bioluminescentsquid]

Predictably tough performances from Mr Bennett but the programme is interesting and the organ at Sassenheim is fabulous - just not ideally recorded. So tough a performance, and so unsympathetically recorded, that I gave up after about 20 minutes.

https://editionsgrandier.bandcamp.com/album/mannerism-organ-music-from-1550-1650

Peter van Dijk recorded some of his NM Sweelinck at Sassenheim.

What do you mean by "tough?"

[Mandryka]

What do you mean by "tough?"

Severe., maybe.

[Cato]

Since this topic is alive right now: I offered this yesterday.


Julius Reubke's Sonata on Psalm 94.

[prémont]

Predictably tough performances from Mr Bennett but the programme is interesting and the organ at Sassenheim is fabulous - just not ideally recorded. So tough a performance, and so unsympathetically recorded, that I gave up after about 20 minutes.

Yes, almost unlistenable sound and a stubborn aggressive approach from Bennett in most of the pieces. Certainly a missed opportunity.

[Mandryka]

I just found Mary Jane Newman's Pachelbel Fugues on Spotify. The organ sounds modern. The playing sounds lively and the singing sounds excellent.

[Selig]

Returning to this, I really like the sound of the first organ in particular (Castelbuono, tracks 1-8).

Are there any other recordings of organs tuned to third-comma meantone? Seems to be rare.

(And a prediction because I feel like it: the next installment in this series will feature historical organs in Corsica)

[bioluminescentsquid]

Returning to this, I really like the sound of the first organ in particular (Castelbuono, tracks 1-8).

Are there any other recordings of organs tuned to third-comma meantone? Seems to be rare.

(And a prediction because I feel like it: the next installment in this series will feature historical organs in Corsica)

3rd comma meantone, not that I know of. The Castelbuono recordings here are a highlight for me as well.
The 2nd installment has actually been released - historic organs of Mexico.

[Cato]

I offered this earlier" a performance by Sebastian Küchler-Blessing in the Cologne Cathedral of Julius Reubke's Sonata on Psalm 94:

[Selig]

3rd comma meantone, not that I know of. The Castelbuono recordings here are a highlight for me as well.

I did find this organ in London going back to 1760 that's supposedly tuned to third-comma meantone, but orgbase doesn't list any recordings:

http://orgbase.nl/scripts/ogb.exe?database=ob2&%250=2044088&LGE=EN&LIJST=lang

The 2nd installment has actually been released - historic organs of Mexico.

Ah yes I know this one, my prediction is for the 3rd volume! He has given organ tours in Corsica in the past, so it seems a likely destination... Maybe Sardinia as well?

[Mandryka]

Very nice demonstration of the Groningen Schnitger by Sietze de Vries -- he's a good communicator, and he has perfect English.  Th m is better than the sound of the organ on many commercial recordings of the organ! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4zgkOW53_0

[Mandryka]

Worthwhile and well recorded recital by Edoardo Bellotti of Byrd and Sweelinck and a bit of Frescobaldi too on an excellent Swedish organ -  Morlanda kyrka, Ellös. Bellotti is a bit cerebral and earnest, but that's OK!

https://classicalmusicinconcert.blogspot.com/2024/09/echos-of-byrd-and-birds-edoardo-bellotti.html

Hans Davidson has a recital disc on the same organ - I remember being really impressed by the Bohm - nichtig/flüchtig,

[Mandryka]

Did you guys all know about this 2021 release?  Because I certainly didn't.



https://static.qobuz.com/goodies/80/000140808.pdf

[hopefullytrusting]

The Royal Albert Hall organ going full bore at the recent Aurora concert:

https://youtube.com/shorts/-8_00iSuh_o?si=HjGqXs3ZUwD9DUSI

[prémont]

Did you guys all know about this 2021 release?  Because I certainly didn't.

I acquired it one and a half years ago, but I don't remember listening to it so far.

[Mandryka]

I acquired it one and a half years ago, but I don't remember listening to it so far.

Well I think you'd remember if you had listened, because it's lovely. I like the very early music. Great the way they've presented it with choir.

[prémont]

Well I think you'd remember if you had listened, because it's lovely. I like the very early music. Great the way they've presented it with choir.

You were right. If I had heard this CD I would be unable to forget it. It's certainly a great experience.