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Your 3 favourite organ composers

Udyret

New member
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

New member
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

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
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

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
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

Member
my 3*3 favorite composers

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

Contratrombone64

Admiral of Fugues
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

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
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.
 

aspiringorganist

New member
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

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
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 :):):)
 

Flute'n'Pedal

New member
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
 

Soubasse

New member
Only 3? You must be kidding!:D

Jehan Alain always tops my list
I guess from there I'd have to make the supremely difficult cull, you see Durufle and Messiaen have to be in there as well. But then, so does Tournemire, Hakim, Vierne, Franck, Buxtehude, and out of respect, I should probably include dear old JSB ...

YOU ASK THE IMPOSSIBLE SIR!:grin:
 

Contratrombone64

Admiral of Fugues
Soubasse - it's a hard one, I agree, Bach was just so good at so many things: having children, taking wives, playing the organ, composing cantatas ... the list goes on and on. I can see how he had the time to "smell the roses" ...
 

glenn514

New member
#1: J.S. Bach
#2: J.S. Bach
#3: see #1 and #2

As a musician and teacher in a Lutheran Church and School, Bach speaks to me on so many levels. As Bach did, I work with children and adults, trying my best to let them see the Almighty in the music.

Certainly, there are many other composers for organ that I truly enjoy. Mendelssohn and Reger would certainly be high on the list.

Glenn Mahnke
Marengo, Illinois USA
 
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