Mozart referred to the organ as ‘the king of instruments’, and with the breathtaking sound produced by huge cathedral organs glistening with thousands of pipes it is easy to hear why. This introduction takes us from one of the most famous pieces ever written for the organ, Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor, to Widor’s wedding favourite Toccata from the Symphony No. 5, taking in masterpieces from the distinctive German and French schools of organ composing along the way. This album also features genial and spectacular music by Handel and Pachelbel and the ‘devastating tornado’ of Jehan Alain’s Litanies.
Bach, Johann Sebastian
Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565
1 Toccata 02:53
2 Fugue 07:09
Handel, George Frideric
Organ Concerto No. 6 in B-Flat Major, Op. 4, No. 6, HWV 294
3 Organ Concerto No. 6 in B-Flat Major, Op. 4, No. 6, HWV 294: I. Andante allegro 05:25
Mendelssohn, Felix
Organ Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 65, No. 4, MWV W59
4 Organ Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 65, No. 4, MWV W59: I. Allegro con brio 03:31
Poulenc, Francis
Organ Concerto in G Minor, FP 93
5 Tempo de l'allegro initial - 02:10
6 Tempo Introduction. Largo 02:41
Widor, Charles-Marie
Organ Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 13, No. 1: V. Marche Pontificale
7 Organ Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 13, No. 1: V. Marche Pontificale 08:20
Böhm, Georg
Prelude and Fugue in C Major
8 Prelude and Fugue in C Major 05:09
Pachelbel, Johann
Toccata in E Minor
9 Toccata in E Minor 01:49
Alain, Jehan
Litanies, AWV 100
10 Litanies, AWV 100 04:45
Gigout, Eugène
10 Pieces: No. 8. Scherzo in E Major
11 10 Pièces: No. 8. Scherzo in E Major 04:56
Buxtehude, Dieterich
Prelude in F Major, BuxWV 145
12 Prelude in F Major, BuxWV 145 07:44
Dupré, Marcel
Variations sur un Noël, Op. 20
13 Variations sur un Noël, Op. 20 11:27
Widor, Charles-Marie
Organ Symphony No. 5 in F Minor, Op. 42, No. 1
14 Organ Symphony No. 5 in F Minor, Op. 42, No. 1: III. Toccata: Allegro 06:14
Total Playing Time: 01:14:13
