These two distinguished labels from Germany include many CDs played by lots of players on organs throughout Europe, especially France and Germany, as well as almost any other place where there is an organ. |
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| Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the founding of the distinguished label, Motette, the firm produces a brand new set of six CDs which survey the organs of Aristide Cavaill�-Coll of Paris. The set includes a book of more than 200 pages describing the organs. Click on headline for a list of organs and organists heard on this set. | |
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| Wilhelm Sauer built a 93-stop organ at St. Nikolai Church, Leipzig, in 1903, using many of the pipes of the 1862 Ladegast organ that preceded it. The magnificent result was restored in 1988, but was removed in 2002 in favor of recreating the Ladegast, thus destroying the fabulous Sauer. Even the Porsche automobile firm was convinced to fund this effort for the Eule firm to build a new organ in the style of Ladegast, though only about 30% of the pipes and none of the mechanism of the Ladegast remained. Former organist of the church Wolfgang Hofmann plays Karg-Elert, Johannes Weyrauch, Bach, Karl Hoyer, and Reger. | |
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| St. Thomas, Leipzig Organ works from the last quarter of the 19th century are recorded on the restored 1889-1908 Sauer 3-100+ in the Thomaskirche, Leipzig, with Ulrich B�hme as the organist. | |
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| Joachim Walter plays transcriptions written by Hermann Jimmerthal (1809-1866), organist at the giant 1854 Schulze organ in St. Mary�s, L�beck, that demonstrate fascinating and unexpected, kaleidoscopic, registration practices. Works he transcribed include Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, Mozart's Jupiter Symphony, etc. Since the organ at St. Mary's was destroyed during World War II, this CD is recorded on the 1871 Ladegast 4m at the Cathedral in Schwerin, one of the world�s largest at the time it was built and similar in its stoplist. | |
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| NEW! Largest Organ in the World, 1883 The Walcker organ in St. Mary�s Cathedral in Riga, Latvia renders this program of German Romantic repertoire played by Fr. Dominikus Trautner with thrills galore! A Mendelssohn sonata, Merkel's Variations on a theme by Beethoven, Rheinberger Sonata 5, and Reger's Introduction & Passacaglia in f and Canzone in E-flat. Click picture for repertoire | |
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| KARG-ELERT: Var. in E; Choral Symphony on Jesu, meine Freude LISZT: Choral Nun danket alle Gott RHEINBERGER: Sonata 11; Adagio molto from Vision, Op. 156 The 1882 Walcker at Riga, when installed at St. Mary�s Cathedral in Riga, Latvia, was the world�s largest church organ with 124 stops on 4m. Most recently renovated by Flentrop, the organ is basically unaltered. Franz Liszt wrote the version of Nun danket heard on this disc for the inaugration of this important organ, impresively played by Fr. Dominikus Trautner. | |
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| Valedictorian of German Romanticism, Max Reger�s ultimate statements for the organ are explored by fine artists in this series of five CDs which feature very interesting organs of the period by Walcker, Sauer, Ladegast, Steinmeyer, and others. | |
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| Included here are the well-known pieces Mozart was commissioned to compose for mechanical clockwork organs as well as other pieces that seem to be composed for the generic keyboard. Ursula Emile-Ossenkop plays Prelude & Fugue in C; Allegro in g; Fugue in g; Fantasy in f K. 608; Fantasy (Toccata) in C; Adagio in b; Fantasy in d; Intrada & Fugue in D | |
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| NEW! J�rg Strodthoff plays a program of 19th-century arrangements of Bach by Straube, Reger, and Gottschalg on the 1898 Furtw�ngler & Hammer organ in Auenkirche, Berlin-Wilmersdorf. Click picture for repertoire | |
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| Playing the Stumm organ in the former Abbey of Sayn, the fine and expressive Ludger Lohmann plays Sonatas 2, 4, and 6, Preludes & Fugues in d and G, and the recently discovered Allegro, Andante, and Andante with variations. Click for more description> | |
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| Heidi Emmert plays Bach, Reger, Rheinberger, and Rudger on the famous 1863 Walcker/1947 Aeolian-Skinner 4-115 at Methuen Memorial Music Hall, Massachusetts. | |
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| REGER: Prelude & Fughetta in E-minor, op. 80; Toccata & Fugue in D-minor, op. 129; 3 Chorales, Op. 135a: Ach bleib deiner Gnade; Jesus, meine Zuversicht; Wer nur den lieben Gott l�sst walten RHINEBERGER: Pastoral-Sonate in G, op. 88 MENDELSSOHN: Sonata II BACH: Toccata & Fugue in d The Sauer Organ at the Berlin Cathedral, in 1905 the largest organ in Europe with 113 ranks, the recently restored organ provides the means to explore ��almost forgotten tone colors,�� in the words of cathedral organist Michael Pohl, whose fine performances demonstrate it. | |
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| NEW! 8-Volumes Several organists play the masterful and tuneful compositions of Josef Rheinberger (1839-1901), mostly on period organs by Sauer, Walcker, and Link. | |
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| NEW! The Great Organ (1673 Richborn/1984 Schuke) and the Small Organ (1637 Stellwagen/1978 Hillebrand) at St. Jakobi, L�beck, where Manfred Kluge (1928-1971) held his last post, offer an opportunity to hear Kluge�s works on the instruments which he knew well, at the very location where he originally composed and performed these pieces, including an arrangement for organ of Stravinsky's Symphonies for Wind Instruments. Organist Joachim Walter has a particular interest in L�beck�s musical history, which he explores in recitals, publications, and exhibits. Click picture for repertoire | |
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| NEW! Robert Fuchs (1847-1927), praised by Brahms and a respected composition teacher at the Vienna Conservatory, took the tradition of Brahms and made thoughtful variations of these previously articulated musical statements. Peter Planyavsky plays the 1991 Rieger organ in the Stephansdom in Vienna. | |
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| Stefan Schmidt improvises on the great symphonic 3-59 G�ckel organ in St. Peter�s, D�sseldorf on Gregorian Chant tunes for Advent and Christmas as sung by the Schola Ars Cantandi directed by Peter Petermann. | |
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| Requiem (Missa Pro Defunctis) and Funeral Rites (Ordo Exsequiarum): Responsories are sung by the choir of the Robert Schumann Hochschule, D�sseldorf, directed by Karlheinrich Hodes, performing at Klosterkirche Knechtsteden. The accompanying booklet gives the text in Latin, German, French and English. | |
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| Mallorca, the Spanish island, was home to several important organbuilders and organs dating to the 15th century. A large organ built in 1762 by the most important of these, Jordi Bosch (1739-1800), son of an respected organbuilder, is preserved at the parish church in Santanyi on Mallorca and has been repaired by the Grenzing firm, including its 25-rank(!) mixture. Hans-Dieter M�ller plays a collection of period Spanish works and improvises in the style. | |
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| DREU: Tiento partido de mano derecha a tres A. SOLER: Sonatas Nos. 45, 54, 56 J. SOLER: Coral No. 3 TALTABULL: Nadala GURIDI: Variaciones sobre un tema vasco BUXTEHUDE: Ein feste Burg; Herr Christ, der cinig Gottes Sohn BACH: Prelude & Fugue in C Torrent at Barcelona Cathedral demonstrates the organ completed in 1994 by Gabriel Blancafort to recreate the original organ of 1540. The resulting large, four-manual instrument presents the fascinating circumstance of a brand-new organ in essentially ancient Spanish style containing these divisions: Batalla, Ecos, Cadireta, Orgue major, and Expressiu. Wonderful playing, of course, from this leader and champion of the Spanish school. | |
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| NEW! Ataungo Organo Barroko The masterpiece by an unknown builder in Ataun is ideal for organist Esteban Elizondo�s selection of battle pieces that demonstrate its many reeds. | |
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| Hubert Meister plays Trio Sonatas Nos. 1-6 BWV 525-520, on the Gottfried Silbermann organs in Grosshartmannsdorf and Forcheim. | |
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| Michael Pohl plays the completely restored-as-built 1905 Sauer 4-136 in the Berlin Cathedral, the largest Wilhelm Sauer organ ever built and representing the ultimate development of the orchestral organ in the high Romantic period. Works: 2 Preludes & Fugues in D; Passacaglia in c; Chorales Wachet auf, Schm�cke dich, Nun danket, and Vor deinen Thron tret ich hiermit Click ikon for further description | |
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| On the restored Trost organ in Waltershausen, which Harald Vogel has called "the ideal Bach organ," Christina Garcia Banegas plays the Great 18 chorales by J. S. Bach, BWV 651- 668. | |
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| The distinguished organist and teacher Felix Freidrich, leader of the Th�ringian Organ Academy since 1991, organist of the Trost organ in Altenburg, and an officer of the Gottfried Silbermann Society, plays two Silbermanns: the 2-26 built at Mylau in 1731 and the 2-37 built at Reichenbach in 1725. Click ikon for repertoire | |
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| Daniel Roth plays organ works of Franck on the Cavaill�-Coll organs of Saint-Sulpice, Paris (1862); Santa Maria del Coro in San Sebasti�n, Spain (1863); and Saint-Etienne Cathedral in Saint-Brieuc, Bretagne, France (1848). | |
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| Daniel Roth plays Widor: Symphonie #5 op. 42/1 Symphonie #10, Romane, op. 73 Daniel Roth plays the Cavaill�-Coll organ at Saint Sulpice, Paris. | |
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| VIERNE: Messe Solennelle for 4-part mixed choir and two organs MULET: Tu Es Petra; TOURNEMIRE: Prelude et Fresque HAKIM: The Embrace of Fire | |
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| R�pons pour le Temps de P�ques; Andante; Te Deum; 12 Chorale Preludes and DUPR�: 3 Preludes & Fugues in B-flat, f, g, Op. 7, on the rebuilt Cavaill�-Coll organ at La Madeleine, Paris, where the composer was organist 1962-68. | |
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| Prelude & Fugue on BACH; Ad nos . . .; Weinen, Klagen . . . Daniel Roth, titulaire, brings such expressive energy to these works that one wonders at his reputation as a somewhat cool player. The sound of the prime Cavaill�-Coll is far more than one could even hope for. | |
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| This live performance of Cochereau at his best was recorded in excellent stereo sound at a concert in the magnificent cathedral at Cologne, Germany, on May 30, 1972, by the West German Radio. DUPR�: Prelude & Fugue in F-minor MESSIAEN: Apparation de l��glise �ternelle COCHEREAU: Improvised Symphony on Veni Creator | |
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| Fran�ois Lombard has painstakingly transcribed three of Pierre Cocherau's famous improvisations for this recording: 15 Versets on Ave maris stella; Introduction, Choral & Variations on O Filli et Filiae; Sortie sur Adeste Fidelis. Lombard plays the 1870 Cavaill�-Coll at the Church of St. Peter in Calais, France. Sheet music of these transcriptions is listed under Cochereau in the Sheet Music department on this website. | |
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| FRANCE GAVE US the first international organ recitalist with a trans-Atlantic career, champion of organ reform and early music, musicologist, and prodigious composer whose organ works are played on these CDs in several venues by various organists. | |
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| Susan Chaisemartin, disciple of Dupr� and organist of St. Augustin in Paris, plays the Cavaill�-Coll at Rouen in the beloved 15 pieces founded on antiphons as well as Sept Pi�ces, op. 27. | |
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| Daniel Roth at St.-Sulpice, Paris This CD offers a cross-section of Dupr�s substantial canon of organ works: Preludes & Fugues in B, a, g, A-flat; two Chorales; two Inventions; Variations on a No�l; Le Monde dans l�attente du Sauveur from Symphonie-Passion, and several more. Click to see entire list. | |
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| Daniel Roth improvises at Sacr�-Coeur, the giant basilica in Paris which contains a 4m Cavaill�-Coll. Roth improvises: Fanfares, Chaconne on a theme of Brahms, R�cit de Cornet, and pieces based on chants Pange lingua, Victimae paschali, Ubi caritas, and several more. | |
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| Bernhard Leonardy plays the complete organ works of Durufl� on the 1989 Van den Heuvel 5m organ of 147 ranks at Saint Eustache in Paris. Click picture for list of works | |
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| NEW! The 1899 Cavaill�-Coll 3-62 at the Moscow Conservatory was exhibited at the 1900 World�s Fair by Widor, Vierne, Gigout, and Guilmant. A program of Russian and French music is played by Alexei Parshin who teaches organ at the conservatory. Click picture for repertoire | |
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| As heard on the Pipedreams radio program in September, 1999, Widor's own arrangement for organ and orchestra of two movements from Organ Symphony No. 6. Also, one movement from Organ Symphony No. 2 into "Symphonie pour orgue et orchestre opus 42" in g. Also on the CD, American Frank Stewart Adams's 1920 arrangement of the first movement from Widor's Organ Symphony No. 5. Exciting performance by Ulrich Meldau and the Zurich Symphony. Also two solo works. | |
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| Fr�d�ric Blanc Improvises on the 1889 Cavaill�-Coll 3-78 at the Basilica of St-Sernin, Toulouse. With an extraordinary gift, he improvises Seven Symphonic Meditations on the Book of Genesis (one for each day of the Creation) and a Mass. Four of the five Mass movements are colorful, imaginative, and gentle, on Ave maris stella, Tatum ergo, Placare Christe servulis, and Ubi Caritas. After the calm, the Sortie becomes a brilliantly energetic improvisation on Christus vincit. A wonderful CD! | |
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| Blanc Improvises 18 Versets on August 14 and 15, 1992, at St-Sernin, a fine CD released following his great hit of Genesis. The versets are short and are intended to demonstrate the panopoly of colors and effects available from the organ, resulting in the very last sound document of the beloved Cavaille-Coll before its disassembly for restoration. | |
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| NEW! This premier improviser explores the tonal resources of the landmark 1845 Cavaill�-Coll at the Cathedral of Saint-Denis, Paris, the first of the great symphonic organs. Improvs: Six Chansons de France; Prologue, Theme, and 12 Variations; Prelude & Fugue on A-R-I-S-T-I-D-E | |
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| Symphony in G-minor for organ and orchestra, op. 25; Deux Esquisses; Iste confessor, Fileuse, Symphonie-Passion Dupr� Symphony in G-Minor for organ and orchestra, op. 25, was composed 1927-28 in four movements, successfully incorporating the organ. The works for organ and orchestra were recorded in the Zurich Tonhalle in 1992 on the 1988 Kleuker & Steinmeyer played by Ulrich Meldau with the Zurich Symphony, Daniel Schweizer, conductor. The solo organ works are played by Meldau on the 1951 Kuhn at the Church of Enge in Zurich. | |
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| DEMESSIEUX: Po�me for organ and orchestra, op. 9 DUPR�: Concerto in E-minor for organ and orchestra, op. 31; Three Preludes & Fugues, op. 36; Ave Maris Stella & Placare Christe Servulis, Op. 38, Nos. 11 & 16 These excellent performances for organ and orchestra, and Dupr� organ solo works, were recorded in the Zurich Tonhalle in 1994 on the 1988 Kleuker & Steinmeyer played by Ulrich Meldau with the Zurich Symphony, Daniel Schweizer, conductor. | |
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| Kalevi Kiviniemi"> Finish organist Kalevi Kiviniemi is famous for his virtuoso technique and his amazing command of the organ. Here he arranges and transcribes music composed for orchestra, voice, and other instruments, and plays it on a 4m German organ built in 1986 to play romantic and orchestral repertoire. | |
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| LISZT: Sonata in B-minor for piano, transcribed to organ BRAHMS: Variations and Fugue on a theme of Handel, Op. 24, transcribed for organ | |
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| Kalevi Kiviniemi plays a colorful program befitting the tonal palette of this major instrument (4-110), recently enjoying restorative repairs by the Bradford Organ Co., reversing earlier changes. SIBELIUS: Finlandia BONNET: 2nd Legende, Caprice Heroique DUPR�: Magnificat, Antiphon, Crucifixion PIERNE: Prelude WIDOR: Andante Sostenuto SAINT-SA�NS: Prelude op. 99 AULIS SALLINEN: Chaconne KIVINIEMI: Improvisation KOKKONEN: Lux aeterna KANKANEN: The Moonlight | |
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|  Great sound and playing of Bach, Roberts, Rheinberger, Tournemire, Dupr�, and Joyce Jones' own improvisation on The Red Dragonfly | |
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| KREBS FOR TRUMPET & ORGAN: Chorale Preludes Gott der Vater wohn uns bei; In allen meinen Taten; Herzlich lieb hab ich dich, O Herr; Wachet auf; Fantasia in C Wachet auf; Choral Wachet auf; Fantasia sopra Wachet auf; Chorale for Horn & Organ Es ist gewi_lich an der Zeit KREBS FOR ORGAN ALONE: Prelude in C; Fantasia � giusto italiano in F; Fantasia in F; Prelude & Fugue in D-minor Krebs for Trumpet & Organ On the famous organ built in 1739 by Heinrich Gottfried Trost in Altenburg, Germany, Felix Friedrich plays fine works of this pupil of J. S. Bach with Mathias Schmutzler, trumpet and hunting horn. | |
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| Concerto for Organ and Orchestra, op. 52 Toccata, Fugue and Hymn; Aria; 3 Chorale Preludes Paul Wisskirchen plays the 114-rank Klais at Altenberg Cathedral in Peeters� organ concerto with the orchestra directed by Volker Hempfling. Andreas Meisner performs the solo works at Mechelen (Belgium) Cathedral where Peeters was organist for more than 60 years. | |
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| Concerto for Organ & Orch. Symphonia Gregoriana, Moto ostinato Eben Organ Concerto, composed in 1953, received its first ��Western�� performance in 1990 with the composer in attendance at the Altenberg Cathedral. This CD commemorates the event, with Paul Wi_kirchen, cathedral organist at the 114-rank Klais, and the Halle Handel Festival Orchestra, Volker Hempfling, cond. Andreas Meisner plays the solo work, Moto ostinato. Eben�s telling remarks are recorded on the CD and translated to English in the booklet. | |
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| CASELLA: Concerto Romano POULENC: Concerto in g | |
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| Organist Kalevi Kiviniemi & Astra Brass Septett"> Organ & Brass from Frankfurt features the great Finnish organist Kalevi Kiviniemi playing a 75-rank organ with the Astra Brass Septett in original works and interesting arrangements of Franck, Dupr�, Renaissance dances, Clarke, Josquin, Gabrieli, and Saint-Sa�ns that are finely wrought and performed. Click for further description. | |
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| NEW! Ulrich Meldau plays three major works for organ and orchestra with the 4-m 1988 Kleuker-Steinmeyer organ in the Town Hall, Zurich, and the Zurich Symphony Orchestra conducted by Daniel Schweizer. Concerto in a, op. 100; Konzertst�ck in c, op.130; Fantasia Sinfonica, op. 147 | |
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| The 1624 Scherer Organ at St. Stephan�s in Tangerm�nde in north Germany was restored in 1994 by Alexander Schuke of Potsdam. With one-half of the original pipes remaining, including samples from all but four original stops, it is said to be the only large organ of the early Baroque to be returned to its original state. Thus, it joins the recently restored Schnitgers in Hamburg and Uithuizen as among the more important restorations of Baroque Europe. Christoph Lehmann plays very well a program of appropriate works for this early baroque organ. Click ikon for repertoire | |
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| Heinrich Hamm plays a program of works by south German composers of the time of the organ�s creation, including Speth, Muffat, Nauss, Maichelbeck, Marpurg, Oldy, Knecht, and P. E. Bach. | |
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| Weckmann Complete Hans Davidsson plays with great style on the famous Arp Schnitger organ at Norden in the Ludgerikirche. Exhaustive notes in the 94-page booklet. 2-CD set | |
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