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    Frederik Magle
    Administrator

    Krummhorn
    Co-Administrator

The most difficult organ piece to play.

Jeffrey Hall

New member
I'm having enough problems right now with the Prelude and Fugue on ALAIN so re-visiting the Toccata is well beyond any spare thoughts!

Ahh, one of my all-time favorites! In grad school I learned the fugue, but have never really put the prelude together, which I think is the harder part of the work. But if one were to start a "best organ fugues ever written" thread, this one would be way up there in my book. Good luck with it! I really must get back to the prelude sometime, so I can actually play the thing in a concert. :rolleyes:
 

Argoth

New member
Tu es petra of Henri Mulet is quite complicated. Works of Jean Langlais and the american organist/composer Pam Decker are at the top of my 'complicated' list, too.

I hope I will get to see a recital by Pam Decker sometime in the near future, since the organ professor at my old University in the States happens to be one of the 6 organists on the Phyllis Stringham management label with her, and I usually happen to be in town during recital season when an artiste from said label comes to give a recital :grin:
 

methodistgirl

New member
The most difficult organ piece

I will have to say Toccata & fugue. I have just about pulled my hair
out with this one! No one will help me out at the church. The top
church musicians are always busy. In fact keep changing my time
when I can practice. When I get to practice again, I wind up having
to start over again!:nut: I know those in the office wished I would play
something else! It's not exactly Jesu Joy of Man's Desire. That one
is like falling of the organ bench which I almost did the first time I
sat down on it.:rolleyes: I'm so short!:rolleyes: Believe me I'm no Diane Bish yet!
I hope someone here knows her fame on the pipe organ.
judy tooley
 

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
Hi Judy,

When I reach a level of frustration on any piece I am trying to learn, I leave it alone for the rest of that practice session, and work on something else. There are so many other organ pieces to leanr and play ... maybe try to focus on some other organ works which will greatly expand ones horizons. Unfortunately, those who use church instruments for practicing are at the mercy of staff musicians and their schedules, and rightly so, as they need specific times for their practice times.

We all wish we could be Diane Bish or Virgil Fox, E. Power Biggs and many others. I for one will never achieve that greatness, nor do I even try - but it is always nice to dream, I guess.
 

Argoth

New member
Hi Judy,

When I reach a level of frustration on any piece I am trying to learn, I leave it alone for the rest of that practice session, and work on something else. There are so many other organ pieces to leanr and play ... maybe try to focus on some other organ works which will greatly expand ones horizons. Unfortunately, those who use church instruments for practicing are at the mercy of staff musicians and their schedules, and rightly so, as they need specific times for their practice times.

We all wish we could be Diane Bish or Virgil Fox, E. Power Biggs and many others. I for one will never achieve that greatness, nor do I even try - but it is always nice to dream, I guess.

Hey, Krummhorn, since you have mentioned Langlais in this thread, I saw a poster at school today that his widow is touring the States in October and giving recitals in various cities, including where I am based. Wonder if she is coming your way!
 

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
Hi Argoth,

Marie-Louise Langlais would be something to go see - alas, she is only performing in Minnesota, a bit of a stretch for an evenings drive for me out here in Arizona :crazy: :p
 

Argoth

New member
Hi Argoth,

Marie-Louise Langlais would be something to go see - alas, she is only performing in Minnesota, a bit of a stretch for an evenings drive for me out here in Arizona :crazy: :p

Well I'm based in Texas and she seems to be coming here in October, this was a poster released by the Church she is playing at, perhaps she is playing in more States? I cannot find any info about this online though, will let you know if I find out more.
 

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
Appreciated the information, Argoth. I'll certainly keep watch for any other public information on her tour appearances.
 

Tomasz

New member
Hello ;)
For me "Joies" from "Trios Danses" of Jehan Alain is quite complicated and Toccata of Durufle.
Transports de joie[SIZE=-1] d'une ame devant la gloire du Christ qui est la sienne from L'Ascension comes to mind ;)

[/SIZE]
 

Corno Dolce

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
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

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
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

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
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 .. :nut: .. 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

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
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

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
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

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
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

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
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

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
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

New member
Tu Es Petra

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!
 
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