Pipe organ music where to hear

[alancolledge]

I am sure my music tastes are as diverse as some of you
I've always wanted to hear a live rendition of the Bach's Toccata and Fugue and other organ greats on a big powerful organ (oo-er!)in a cathedral/church.

Does anyone know if these are played for the public anywhere?

[karkus30]

Originally Posted by alancolledge

I am sure my music tastes are as diverse as some of you
I've always wanted to hear a live rendition of the Bach's Toccata and Fugue and other organ greats on a big powerful organ (oo-er!)in a cathedral/church.

Does anyone know if these are played for the public anywhere?

Dont know, but I would like to hear a recital, hope someone is in the know.


Quick search revealed all sorts going on. Royal Festival hall does a fair bit.

[dynamic turtle]

AFAIK, the organ in the Royal Albert Hall is considered one of the best in the world. I also believe it has been recently restored. Heard it in full swing during Richard Strauss's Thus Spoke Zarathustra at a prom some years ago.

Breathtaking instrument, when it gets going

I've never heard convicing organ recital at home, so I understand your situation. I guess this is largely down to limitations of my systems' ability to reproduce it, and the difficulty in recording the music effectively in the first place.

IMO, the RAH & RFH are the wrong venues for music as gothic & moody as Bach's Toccata. Sort of thing you'd have to listen to in a church/cathedral, to get the full atmospheric impact of the music.

DT

[Flimber]

The Grand Organ in the Anglican Cathedral in Liverpool is one of the biggest in the world (ranked two above the RAH one on this list FWIW. The cathedral itself is one of the biggest in the world, it's truly cavernous in there. I've heard that organ at full pelt and you'd think the planet was about to crack in two under the strain. Er, it's rather impressive. You have to get youself up here for a recital sometime in your life as the instrument and setting are gorgeous:

http://www.liverpoolcathedral.org.uk/music/organ.asp

The organ even has it's own website:

http://www.livcathorgan.homestead.com/lcoindex.html

Mike.

[alancolledge]

Thanks for the info. Just checking the links you gave they do recitals of Bach every 2 years!
Guess I'll see Haley's comet first!

Incidentally how low do these large organs go? Some of the pipes are enormous.

[Flimber]

I heard Guilmant's 4th Symphony (IIRC) at Liverpool in the late 80's and I remember feeling my stomach 'wobbling' at the finale - and not for the usual reasons I guess I wasn't the only one who was being physically vibrated as loads of people in the crowd had that 'just been on a rollercoaster' look on their faces. What we heard and felt was truly thunderous - those really low notes (and their even-lower harmonics) seemed to shake the entire building and everyone in it and like I said this is no 'garden shed' of a church, it's the fifth largest cathedral in the world. If you've never been do consider making the trip and if you go up the 300ft tower be prepared for wobbly legs syndrome

Mike.

[Garrett]

I use to sometimes play it on my hi-fi with the surround pro on in church mode.

My favourite organ piece is Albinoni's Adagio for string and organ, track 2 here. Mmmm seems more string than organ but have heard it mainly played on the organ.

[alancolledge]

Originally Posted by Garrett

I use to sometimes play it on my hi-fi with the surround pro on in church mode.

My favourite organ piece is Albinoni's Adagio for string and organ, track 2 here. Mmmm seems more string than organ but have heard it mainly played on the organ.

Yep know that one.....Simon Mayo's confessions! If you remember. Nice piece of music.