Credits:

Widor, Charles-Marie (1844-1937)

Description:

This is the third collection of Vidor's organ symphonies. Included in this collection are No. 7 and the "Gothic Symphony," which is effectively "No. 9. In No. 7, a powerful passage at the beginning drives the entire work, and even the peaceful atmosphere that sometimes appears is wildly disturbed as it moves toward the climax at the end. The dramatic music, which makes the most of the organ's resonance to the utmost limit, leaves a strong impression. The Gothic Symphony also opens with a tension-filled phrase, followed by a beautiful andante movement, and then heads toward a magnificent final movement. The final movement opens with a simple chorale, but the composition leads to a gorgeous toccata through various variations, requiring extremely high performance technique from the players and producing sound effects comparable to that of a large orchestra. The title "Gothic" originally refers to the vast Gothic chapel of Rouen Cathedral, but the entire piece is based on a theme from Gregorian chant. Vidor loved this work so much that it is recorded that he frequently performed it at his concerts. The performance will be given by Broun, an organist and teacher mainly in Germany. Naxos Japan