Improvisations |
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| NEW! Cochereau was a great symphonist, and it is well known that a symphony was often his preferred musical form for extended improvisations in concert and yet, despite the fact that his recorded legacy is huge, this particular form is singularly underrepresented on the many albums of his improvisations available previously. Up to now his discography has not included an extended work comparable in scale to a symphony by, for example, Vierne. The present album supplies that deficiency by presenting two extended symphonies from what might be considered Cochereau's greatest period at Notre-Dame. | |
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| Yves Rechsteiner performs his own transcriptions of movements from the operas of Rameau on the 1742 Moucherel (attr.) organ at the church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Cintegabelle, France. Henri-Charles Caget performs on percussion, adding intensity and drama to the recording. | |
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| A collection of hymn improvisations from the Portageville Chapel Retreat for Organists, a non-profit retreat center for organists in an idyllic western New York State hamlet. | |
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| Steven Turner demonstrates the A. David Moore organ in Hand Memorial United Methodist Church in Pelham, Georgia with a series of improvisations. | |
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| Following the custom of Dutch Reformed organists, Piet van Egmond, gifted organist, radio personality, and model train enthusiast improvises on hymntunes on this 2-CD set at a bargain price. | |
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| Gerre Hancock is inspired by cathedral windows to improvise a masterwork. | |
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| An English organist improvises on themes of a Portugese and a French composer, all from a church in Germany! Organist Wayne Marshall is joined by members of the Munich Symphony Orchestra, directed by Johannes Skudlik, at the Stadtpfarrkirche Marië Himmelfahrt, Landsberg am Lech, Germany. Organ and orchestra perform large works of Portugese composer Antonio Ferreira dos Santos and Francis Poulenc. Marshall also improvises on themes of both composers. | |
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| Herbert Buffington, talented improvisateur; a new organ by the A. E. Schlueter Pipe Organ Company in Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Atlanta; and carols with brilliant new settings! | |
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| Pierre Cochereau, organist of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris 1955-1984, is famed for his improvisations played during Sunday Masses at the Cathedral. Here, stellar examples recorded during Masses between 1973 and 1977 sample four each of Processional, Offertory, Communion, and Recessional improvisations. Not previously released. Click the headline to order. | |
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| Pierre Cochereau's improvisations on folk tunes come to life once again on the great organ at the Église Saint-Eloi in Dunkerque (Dunkirk), France. Organist François Lombard, who has studied under André Isoir, Michel Chapuis and Gaston Litaize, breathes life into Cochereau's works by playing his own transcriptions and a transcription by David Briggs. | |
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| Organ and Bells of Erfurt On a hillside in the small town of Erfurt, (west of Leipzig), Germany, stand two (roughly) fourteenth century churches: The Severikirche (the older of the two buildings), and the Cathedral, where Martin Luther was ordained in 1507. Each of the churches features a number of bells, including the Gloriosa bell (cast 1497) and silver bells of the Cathedral, and the Osanna bell in the Severikirche. It is on the themes of these bells that Cathedral organist Silvius von Kessel improvises. von Kessel improvises on the Cathedral's 1992 Hauptorgel and the 1963 Chororgel, (both built by Alexander Schuke), and the 1930 Klais organ at the Severikirche. | |
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| Organist Loïc Mallié improvises on themes of Richard Wagner on the symphonic Cavaillé-Coll Organ at the église de La Madeleine, Paris. Total playing time: 63:47 | |
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| Chorales and Improvisations Organists Feike Asma, Piet van Egmond, Dirk Jansz. Zwart, Hermann van Vliet, Sander van Marion and Peter Eilander perform chorales and improvisations on organs throughout Holland. Click above for a complete list of works and instruments! | |
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| Trenney Improvises!Tom Trenney, winner of the AGO Improvisation Competition, improvises two suites on hymn tunes and plays repertoire on a new three-manual organ by Patrick J. Murphy & Associates at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Baltimore | |
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| Masterful improvisor Michel Chapuis explores the Tonus Peregrinus in two improvisations on the Magnificat theme as used in German Lutheran churches. The first is a French classical suite of 14 movements, and the second is in free style. He plays the organ built in 1993 by French builder Bernard Aubertin in North German baroque style with three manuals and 65 ranks for the concert hall at Shirane-Cho in Japan. | |
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| On the new 74-rank organ built in 2005 by the Eule firm of Bautzen in St. Sebastian Cathedral in Magdeburg, Germany, Matthias Mück and Otto Maria Krämer improvise three duets and six solos mostly on tunes related to the liturgical year. DUET IMPROVISATIONS: on Veni Creator, The Owl Rag, and a pastoral scene MATTHIAS MÜCK: Solo Improvisations on O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden; Maria dich lieben; Lauda sion; Nun danket OTTO MARIA KRÄMER: Solo Improvisations on Veni Emmauel; Victimae paschali | |
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| The enormously talented Wolfgang Seifen improvises in a live concert on a large 3m organ (1990 Göckel) in the splendid acoustic of the Holy Ghost Church in Mannheim, Germany. Seifen, born in 1956, is professor of improvisation and liturgical organ playing at the University of Art, Berlin. Two CD Set. | |
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| On a new organ in the parish church at Te Haag, The Netherlands, built by the Austrian firm Kögler of St. Florian, Sietze de Vries improvises on the Te Deum and also plays Buxtehude works. Versets and chorales are sung by a children's choir, Focaliber, directed by Edwin Velvis. BUXTEHUDE: Prelude in d, BuxWV 140; Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern (2 vs.), BuxWV 223; Te Deum, BuxWV 218 DE VRIES IMPROVISES: Psalm 87 (5 vs.); Laudate Dominum (Psalm 150, 6 verses & Alleluia, choir sings two verses) | |
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| On the Müller organ at the Jacobijnerkerk in Leeuwarden, The Netherlands, Sietze de Vries improvises on the Genevan psalm melodies and also plays his own compositions based on them. A choir sings the melodies. Included are Psalms 43, 61, 72, 101, 118, 121, 130, 139. Styles vary, with most based on classic forms. | |
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| Sietze de Vries at Mittenwald where the Roman Catholic parish Church of St. Peter & Paul has had an organ since the Gothic era. A baroque building was completed in 1749, and the organ case was repainted in 1779. It was frequently rebuilt, including electrifications in 1905, 1947, and 1960. In 1999, Bernard Edskes built a new organ in the old case. De Vries improvises a French suite, three movements in high baroque style on Nun danket, and a 5-section suite in 19th and 20th century style inspired by the Biblical story of Jesus walking on the water and using two familiar chorale melodies for much of the thematic material, as well as a narrator in the manner of Kuhnau. | |
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| Stephanuskerk in Hasselt and Grote Kerk in Dordrecht, magnificent buildings with environments most enhancing to organ sound and exciting organ playing. Click the headline for works by Grison, Festing, Rheinberger, Dubois, Guilmant, Bach, and an improvisation by Mulder. | |
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| Peter Planyavsky improvises on the organs of the Cathedrals in Brixen and Bremen, Germany. The famous improvisation in Brixen on the was recorded in 1981; the 19-minute improvisation in Bremen on a theme from the Brahms German Requiem was recorded by Radio Bremen in 1983 and has been broadcast but not released as a recording. Playavsky, born in 1947, is Professor of Organ and Improvisation and chairman of the Church Music Department at the University for Music and Drama in Vienna. Click for descriptions of the improvs. on this CD. | |
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| The great French organbuilder Daniel Kern of Strasbourg completed a new organ for the resonant Church of Saint-Pothin in Lyon in 2004 with three manuals and about 50 ranks of pipes. The design is based on symphonic organs of the 19th-century and the organ includes two Barker levers. Loïc Mallié, organist of the church, improvises symphonic movements in demonstration of the organ's sounds. Click the headline for further description and to order. | |
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| Loïc Mallié improvises six works on themes of Debussy and in his style. The organ was built by Victor Gonzalès at Saint-Vaast in Bailleul. Improvisations: Autour de Debussy; Prélude, fugue et final; Anthologie, la Grotte, Contraste; Clins d’Œil; Jeux; Final | |
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| Organbuilder, OHS member, and superb organist, George Bozeman improvised this suite on the famous organ at Methuen during a live concert. The 11 sections of the suite are inspired by graphic artist Lee Haskell, who created a series of drawings. Click headline for repertoire | |
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| Philippe Lefèbvre improvises on the 1954 Aeolian-Skinner op. 1258, a 4m enlarged in 2003 to 81 ranks by Dan Garland of Fort Worth. Philippe Lefebvre is one of three titular organists at Notre-Dame, Paris. Click for list of improvs. & more info. | |
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| Hans Haselböck and the Choralschola der Hofburgkapell Wien use the Dominican liturgy to celebrate an evening vespers at the Dominican Church in Vienna. The organ is an 1895 Rieger (III, 36), restored by Karl Schuke (1991). | |
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| Tom Trenney plays the 2003 Schantz 3-56 at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Savannah, Georgia. Andrew Kotylo joins him for Stephen Paulus' Paean for Organ Duet Click the headline for works by Anne Wilson, Shearing, Dudley Buck, Dan Miller, Ives, Paulus, Phillips, Jennifer Conner, and improvs by Trenny. | |
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| For double choir, orchestra, and great organ: The Last Gospel is performed at Notre-Dame Cathedral, Paris, by Ensemble Orchestral de Paris, Maîtrise Notre-Dame de Paris (the choir) directed by John Nelson; Olivier Latry, organist. Escaich composed this work on commission to “bear testimony to 2000 years of Christianity.” It is based on the Prologue of the Gospel according to St. John. Then, Escaich improvises on the cathedral organ. Click on the headline to order. | |
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| Sietze de Vries plays a restored Schnitger at Uithuizen Newly and spectacularly restored by Bernard Edskes, the 1701 Schnitger organ at the Jacobikirche in Uithuizen, The Netherlands, may have the most sumptuously beautiful sound of all the restored Schnitgers. Sietze de Vries, born in 1973, is the Dutch paradigm among organists, especially in his ability to improvise musically and intelligently, always with a perfect sense of structure and never frantic. Here, he plays Buxtehude and improvises in North German style and also as it was influenced by the Italian style (Concerto de segnor Vriescobaldi!) Click on the headline for more information and to order. | |
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| Five organs built or restored by Bernhardt Edskes are improvised upon by the splendid Sietze De Vries. Click on the headline for more information and to order. | |
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| Bernhardt Edskes of The Netherlands is famous for this restorations of historic organs as well as new organs. Here, the phenomenal Sietze De Vries improvises on five organs restored or built by Edskes. Click on the headline for more information and to order. | |
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| Peter Ewers contemplates the universe in 17 improvisations at the Pierre Schyven/Salomon van Bever (1874/1912) organ at the Royal Church of Notre-Dame de Laeken, Brussels. Click the picture for more information and to order. | |
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| Symphonic Improvisation largely in French style is realized by Jörg Abbing on a 1995 Kuhn 3-61 in Saarbrücken. The organ was built in French style in collaboration with the School of Music and Theatre of the German state of Saarland for use by students for lessons and practice. Abbing is a graduate of the school, studied other places, and is now on its faculty and is the organist of the church wherein the organ is located. Symphonie on Gregorian Themes (4 mvt.) Five Mediations Poème Symphonique to the memory of Messiaen | |
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| Stefan Schmidt improvises on the great symphonic 3-59 Göckel organ in St. Peter’s, Düsseldorf on Gregorian Chant tunes for Advent and Christmas as sung by the Schola Ars Cantandi directed by Peter Petermann. | |
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| Pierre Pincemaille, titulaire of St-Denis in Paris, improvises on the 1996 Kuhn 3-83 at the cathedral in Minden, Germany. | |
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| François 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 Cavaillé-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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| This premier improviser explores the tonal resources of the landmark 1845 Cavaillé-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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| Pierre Pincemaille, titular organist at St. Denis, improvises a Mass of seven movements, Ten Versets for Vespers, and a Prelude, Ricercar and Noël Variations, wonderfully demonstrating the sounds of the seminal 87-rank Cavaillé-Coll. | |
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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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| Spectacular Improvisations in the French tradition are masterfully crafted by Ansgar Wallenhorst (b. 1967) who studied improvisation with French masters Olivier Latry and Thierry Escaich. The interesting 38-page booklet contains the themes for improvisation as well as specifications for the four organs which represent 107 years of evolving tonal design. | |
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| The famous organ at Notre-Dame in Paris, tonally restored in 1992 to its Cavaillé-Coll roots but retaining some later additions, is demonstrated in ensembles and in some individual stops by Jean-Pierre Leguay, one of the three titular organists of the church, on 20 tracks of this fascinating CD. On four more tracks we hear improvisations played at three Masses and at the inaugural concert of December 11, 1992, replayed from the memory of the famous, now infamous, computer which later silenced the organ through malfunctions. | |
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| Daniel Roth improvises at Sacré-Coeur, the giant basilica in Paris which contains a 4m Cavaillé-Coll. Roth improvises: Fanfares, Chaconne on a theme of Brahms, Récit de Cornet, and pieces based on chants Pange lingua, Victimae paschali, Ubi caritas, and several more. | |
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| in 1961 at the largest cathedral in Europe. Hear a four-movement Symphony in D-minor; a Passacaglia and Fugue in F-Minor; and an Improvisation on Veni Creator. This excellent mono CD captures the huge 1956 Klais 4-135. | |
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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. DUPRÉ: Prelude & Fugue in F-minor MESSIAEN: Apparation de l’église éternelle COCHEREAU: Improvised Symphony on Veni Creator | |
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| These festive improvisations were recorded at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris at Christmas services 1968-1973 and at one private concert held there in 1971 with famed titular organist Pierre Cochereau at the console. | |
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| Two Grand Improvisations: a Suite of Dances and a Prelude, Adagio, and Chorale Variations, were recorded at live recitals in 1970 and 1974. Spectacular! | |
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| The famous improvisations realized by Cochereau at recordings sessions in 1977 at Notre Dame (and which have been transcribed to sheet music) are now available on CD! | |
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| This 2-CD set documents 25 improvisations on the Gospel according to St. Matthew as realized by Cochereau at Notre-Dame in Paris on five consecutive Sundays ending March 4, 1984, the day before Cochereau’s death. | |
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| The brilliant British organist Wayne Marshall improvises on great American tunes by George Gershwin, Vincent Youmans, Billy Strayhorn, Leonard Bernstein, and Jules Styne. He plays the 84-rank, 4-manual Fisk organ at the Meyerson in Dallas. | |
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| Famed organist Michel Chapuis improvises in French classical style on the organs built by Robert and François-Henri Clicquot in 1710 at the Chapelle Royale at Versailles and in 1783 at Souvigny to exemplify his commentary on improvisation, French classical style, notes inégals, ornamentation, expression, registration, etc. The superb sound on the DVD includes a soundtrack of the commentary which may be heard in the original French or with English overdubbing. Note: This DVD will not play on American or Japanese television sets or DVD players (NTSC). However, it will play on a computer which is equipped with a DVD drive and also on European TV (PAL). | |
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| In this second DVD, Michel Chapuis recreates the atmosphere of the inauguration of the 1859 Cavaillé-Coll at Poligny by Lefébure-Wély through improvisation in 19th-century style. He also improvises on the exquisite 1890 Cavaillé-Coll at St-Ouen in Rouen and discusses both organs and improvisation techniques. The improvisations include demonstrations of various effects and registrations. About 80 minutes. Includes a 24-page booklet. Click for more information, subjects of the improvs, and to order. | |
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