Your 3 favourite organ composers

[Udyret]

I know this question is hard to answer, so I apologize in advance. But if you
had to name your three favourite organ composers, who would it be? My top
three would be as follows:

1. Johan Sebastian Bach (No doubt about it, so many works of a high quality, it's unbelievable. Besides; to improve as an organ player all roads lead to Bach.

2. Olivier Messiaen (what does his music sound like? oh yeah Messiaen. His meditation, depth and individuality is gorgeous.

3. César Franck (So emotionally romantic, wow!)

[methodistgirl]

I will say Bach,Mozart,and one of the musicans at my church. Paul Harris
composed a piece for after a service and it sounded great.
judy tooley

[Corno Dolce]

JSBach - The man of music for all seasons and for all reasons.
--------
Max Reger - A much misunderstood and maligned master.
------------
Charles Tournemire - A cosmic visionary.
----------------------

What unites these three? They are the most important composers for organ.

[Krummhorn]

Wow ... hard question, especially for one who has been playing for 2 score and 9 years. There are so many favorites of mine, from the time of Bach and into the 20th century - alas, I have to limit it to 3, so here they are:

1. J. S. Bach
2. Dietrich Buxtehude
3. Felix Mendelssohn --- most favorite piece: Sonata I in F Minor

[musicalis]

Hi
3 favorite composers ? OK, but for the same musical period.
Old times : Couperin, Dandrieu, Clerambault
Baroque : Bach, Handel, Buxtehude
Modern : Vierne, Franck, Messian

[Contratrombone64]

1 J.S. Bach
2 Louis Vierne
3 Olivier Messiaen

[Contratrombone64]

Felix Mendelssohn --- most favorite piece: Sonata I in F Minor

Krummiest - the six sonatas are just adorable, I agree. I have a recording of these played on historic Sydney pipe organs (of varying sizes), recorded live by Michael Dudman ... wonderful playing. Also have your favourite, played by the amazing Amy Johansen on the (odd) grand organ at the University of Sydney.

[Krummhorn]

Hi CT64,

Those recordings must be absolutely fan-dam-tastic. My recording is of John Scott playing the organ of St. Paul's Cathedral, London, with its splendid acoustics.

[Pacific 231]

Franck
Reger
Boellmann

[Art Rock]

Bach
Mendelssohn
Widor

[aspiringorganist]

I think it would depend on which certain pieces you were referring to :

I would say Bach, Boëllmann and Clérambault but only because I prefer certain works by each. Though, there are many good compositions, I don't think anyone could summarize their favourite stuff in three composers.

[Corno Dolce]

Greetings aspiringorganist,

I have been playing the organ since I was seven and now am 45. You will learn, over the course of time, that there will be composers who mean the most to you. The reason I have Bach and Reger is because they have based a good deal of their organ compositions on the Lutheran Chorales. Tournemire is also up there because of his basing most of his organ works on the Gregorian Chant. So, the Chorales and the Gregorian Chant is the red thread that links these composers to the Church. It all goes beyond what you have feelings for or against in terms of repertoire when you serve as a Church Organist/Cantor/Music Director.

Respectfully yours,

Corno Dolce

[FinnViking]

1) Lefébure-Wély
2) Padre Davide da Bergamo
3) Martin Mans

[Flute'n'Pedal]

Hi Aspiringorganist,
It's nice to hear from a fellow Ontarionian. Are you taking lessons, and what kind of organ do you play on?

LlL

[Serassi1836]

Bach
Buxtehude
Boellmann