The most difficult organ piece to play.

[Corno Dolce]

Oooooh Yesssss - Transports de Joie from L'Ascension by Messiaen is so much fun to play. His *La Nativite Du Seigneur* is a challenge but it amply rewards one for playing it.

[Corno Dolce]

I recently was lent a copy of Kaikhosru Sorabji's Second Organ Symphony - over 400 minutes of music mostly on four staves - man, it is a work-out and a half to play.

[Krummhorn]

Oooooh Yesssss - Transports de Joie from L'Ascension by Messiaen is so much fun to play. His *La Nativite Du Seigneur* is a challenge but it amply rewards one for playing it.

I can only play Messiaen on the CD player .. .. I haven't the organ or the patience to work out the notes this late in life. I absolutely love to listen to his music in total darkness - the sound really grips me from every direction.

[Corno Dolce]

Hi Krummhorn,

I guess that you have listened to *Apparition De L'Eglise Eternelle* in the dark? That is so effectful!!! If one has a killer home stereo, it makes one weak at the knees. About a year ago some enterprising film-maker did a film about the aforementioned piece and how 18 different people *experienced* it.

Most were floored by it - some just couldn't handle it and walked away. It really leaves nobody untouched. It's one of my alltime favs.

Cheers,

Corno Dolce

[Krummhorn]

Hi Krummhorn,

I guess that you have listened to *Apparition De L'Eglise Eternelle* in the dark? That is so effectful!!! If one has a killer home stereo, it makes one weak at the knees. Corno Dolce

Yes, I have listened to all his works in total darkness, and have the complete organ works on CD's. I also have what I consider one of those 'killer system' at home: a pair KLH's each with 2 15" cones, water cooled midranges and tweeter, run by 300w Sony amp. I can feel the deepest organ bass notes all the way up from my ankles ... shivers up and down my spine everytime I listen to Messiaen.

[Corno Dolce]

Hello Krummhorn,

The film creator which I spoke about in a previous post is Paul Festa.

Below is a link:

http://apparitionfilm.com/

Cheers,

Corno Dolce

[Corno Dolce]

Hello Krummhorn,

Which set of complete Messiaen organ works do you have? I have the one with Olivier Latry at Notre-Dame in Paris - It's so superfabulous. Ihad a chance to compare this one and the one with Gillian Weir. Gillian Weir is a fabulous and consummate artist but the special character of the sound at Notre-Dame won me over hands down.

Apropos Jeanne Demessieux: Do you have her playing the works of Franck at La Madeleine in Paris? Man, that woman turned me on to Franck. She really knows how to interpret Franck, no doubt about it.

Cheers,

Corno Dolce

[Krummhorn]

Hi Corno Dolce,

My Messiaen set is comprised of 6 CD's - on the Jade label (made in France).

All recorded on the Grand Orgue de I'Église de la Trinité (Trinity Church) in Paris between the dates of March 8 and April 12, 1995. Trinity Church, for the benefit of people who don't know, is where Messiaen was organist from 1931 until his death in 1992.

The following artists (one for each CD) that performed these works were:
Jennifer Bate, Jon Gillock, Naji Hakim, Louis Thiry, Thomas Daniel Schlee, and Hans-Ola Ericsson.

The Apparition De L'Église Éternelle, mentioned above in the post of Corno Dolce, is performed by Louis Thiry on disc #4 of the set.

Not certain that this particular CD set is available today or not.

I had acquired this set some years back - maybe 10 years or so -

[Corno Dolce]

Hi Krummhorn,

Thanx for sharing about who is on that set. I have never heard of it nor the label. Guess I'll have to check it out.

Cheers,

Corno Dolce

[Joie]

I am having a very challenging time with the very last page of "Tu Es Petra." I have tried practicing in rhythms, which is helping some.

Any ideas on how to play the last page so it meshes with the other pages?

Stephen Tharpe is incredible!