The rare/unusual repertoire thread

[Corno Dolce]

Hi Giwro,

You took the words right out of my mouth - *Morsel of Fun*.

BRAVO!!! :clap::clap::clap:

 

[giwro]

Glad you enjoyed it, Corno!

:grin:

-G

Hi Giwro,

You took the words right out of my mouth - *Morsel of Fun*.

BRAVO!!! :clap::clap::clap:

 

[NEB]

Some time ago on another (non-organ) music forum, I proposed a challenge to write for organ - the prize was $200 US, the challenge was to take a given modal theme and write up to 3 variations on it. The writing was judged on originality, playability, and (probably) my own bias towards what I thought was good. At the end of the competition, I produced this recording of the variations put together in what (I think) was a cohesive whole.

Variations on an Original Theme

for those who don't have high-speed internet - a low-quality version:

Variations on an Original Theme (LQ)

I think this was a successful experiment - the variations show a lot of creativity, and for many of the composers it was their first attempt at writing for the organ.

Enjoy!

This goes together to make a very enjoyable and convincing peice of music. I especially loved the romantic variation using the tremulant, almost a (what I've called many times) melting sound as the notes melt into eachother and the overall effect is candy melting on the taste buds. Sumptuous.

But that is not to say that all the variations weren't wonderful. They were all exquisite, dispalying luscious harmonic and tonal variety. an Absolute feast for the ears.

And that Grand Fugue at the end. Bravo to the composer of that one!!!!! :clap::clap:

 

[giwro]

Glad you enjoyed it, NEB.

The composer of both the "romantic" variation and the closing fugue were the same - actually, a member of this forum as well "falcon".

Incidentally, he was also the winner of the competition!

Cheers,

- G

This goes together to make a very enjoyable and convincing piece of music. I especially loved the romantic variation using the tremulant, almost a (what I've called many times) melting sound as the notes melt into each other and the overall effect is candy melting on the taste buds. Sumptuous.

But that is not to say that all the variations weren't wonderful. They were all exquisite, displaying luscious harmonic and tonal variety. an Absolute feast for the ears.

And that Grand Fugue at the end. Bravo to the composer of that one!!!!! :clap::clap:

 

[NEB]

That's so funny. The two sections I singled out for special comment were from the same person and the winner to boot! just goes to show we must like similar things. Hahaha!

 

[giwro]

Variations on Adeste Fideles

So, it's that season again, and I thought it would be fun to explore some lesser-known Christmas/Advent music in this thread.

Today I bring you David Gotch's Variations on Adeste Fideles , a fun journey through the colors of the organ.

Enjoy!

 

[Krummhorn]

Delightful ... liked the zimbelstern like counterpart to the theme in the 2nd variation. I'm going to get this one and add it to my Christmas collection to play next year. Too busy right now with Advent leading up to Christmas at church and preparing for a concert in January.

 

[NEB]

Actually, it gives me some ideas for improvised variations. I'm sure I could sit down and cook up something interesting if I put my mind to it.

 

[Contratrombone64]

Unusual repertoire? Well ... from an Aussie point of view, Robert Ampt (City of Sydney organist, custodian of the behemoth) has written a wonderful set of variations on a tune known as "the pub with no beer ..." ... there is a problem, however, as it specifies the use of a 64' stop at the end ... not many instruments can't do it. The work is called "Concert Etude ..."

 

[Corno Dolce]

Hi Giwro,

Thats definitely not a work to truncate if used for a Postlude. I'd play it for a Prelude.

Cheers,

Corno Dolce

 

[giwro]

Glad you liked it, Kh....

There's always more music than I can play for Advent and Christmas... it's my favorite time of the year. :grin:

Cheers,

Delightful ... liked the zimbelstern like counterpart to the theme in the 2nd variation. I'm going to get this one and add it to my Christmas collection to play next year. Too busy right now with Advent leading up to Christmas at church and preparing for a concert in January.

 

[giwro]

IIRC, Sydney and Washington National Cathedral are the only 2 with a 64' reed stop...

I've heard a number of fine compositions from down under - sadly, they seem largely unknown on this side of the pond. One of my favorite "discoveries" was the music of Lovelock - great stuff (and worth hearing more - his Symphonie Concertante for organ is worthy of wider exposure)

Cheers,

Unusual repertoire? Well ... from an Aussie point of view, Robert Ampt (City of Sydney organist, custodian of the behemoth) has written a wonderful set of variations on a tune known as "the pub with no beer ..." ... there is a problem, however, as it specifies the use of a 64' stop at the end ... not many instruments can't do it. The work is called "Concert Etude ..."

 

[Corno Dolce]

Hi Giwro,

Well, then there's the beast at Atlantic City Convention Hall with its Diaphone 64' - God only knows if it fully functions or if it will ever. Sigh...

Cheers,

Corno Dolce

 

[Contratrombone64]

Giwro - do you mind if I ask what wonderful looking console you're looking at.

 

[giwro]

Surely....

It is the 5m Austin/Allen at LaGrave Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The organist kindly let me have a go at it several years ago while I was on holiday there...

I actually was able to photograph and play a number of organs during my trip there - I always try to connect with a friendly local organist who is willing to show me around when I visit an unfamiliar city with nice instruments.

Cheers,

- G

Giwro - do you mind if I ask what wonderful looking console you're looking at.

 

[Contratrombone64]

I didn't realise that the Washington National Cathedral organ's 64' reed stop was full length ... in fact I didn't realise it had a 64 footer (reed).

 

[giwro]

IIRC it *is* full length, although I'm not aware if it is still functional - it was once described as an expensive waste of wind (!)

One wonders if it will be incorporated into the new organ(s) being built for the cathedral

Cheers,

 

[Krummhorn]

The Schoenstein installation at the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, has two 64' stops ... one a Gamba and the other a Trombone. Granted they only extend down 4 notes to GGGGG#, but still listed on the spec sheet as 64 footers.

 

[Corno Dolce]

From what I have heard the 64' Bombarde Basse will be one of the few stops incorporated into the new instrument at Washington National Cathedral - the rest are supposedly going to be sold/given to other pipe organ builders/clearinghouses. Casavant and Dobson will be working together to build the instrument.

 

[musicalis]

List of old organ books

Hi Giwro !

Here is a list of some of my oldest organ books.

LIST OF OLD ORGAN BOOKS

1)
Organist Celebres & Grands maitres de l'orgue
collection de morceaux pour Orgue ou Harmonium
choisis , annotés et classés par LOUIS RAFFY.
Content : Corelli, J.Field, Mendelssohn, Haendell, Mozart, Santucci,
J.E Rembt, H Dumont, F Boëly, J. André, Ch. Rinck, F. Durante, G. Wedemann ....
Editions "Procure de la musique religieuse" Année 1910

2) L'Orgue en Europe
Content : Arnolt Schlick, A. Cabezon, Pachelbel, Mattew Locke,
Francisco Correa de Arauxo, Gilles Julien
Editions "Scola Cantorum" Année : ?

3) Chacones et Passacailles
Content : Frescobaldi, Luigi Rossi, J.Champion de Chambonnieres, J.Kaspar Kerll,
Nicolas Le Begue, Johannis Cabanilles, Georg Muffat, J.Gottfried Walther
Editions "Scola Cantorum" Année : 1954

4) 12 toccatas
G. Frescobaldi
Editions "Scola Cantorum" Année : 1955

5) A la Sainte VIerge
G. Frescobaldi, G.G. Nivers, G.Ph. Telemann, Jean Pagot
J. Bonfils
Editions "Scola Cantorum" Année : 1953

6) Deux prieres Mariales
Magnificat + Sabat Mater
Thomas Daniel Schlee
Editions "Alphonse Leduc" 1987

7) Heures Mystiques
L. Boëlmann
Editions "Enoch" Année ?

8) 100 versets du Magnificat (XVI, XVII & XVIII sciecle)
Cabezon, Titelouze, Scheidt ....
Editions "Bornemann" Année 1949

9) Dona Ei
Jacques Carpentier
Editions A.Leduc" 1986.

Friendly
Jean-Paul​