UPDATED 06/08/2008

FEATURED INSTRUMENT CONCERT   If you enjoy this concert, please donate by clicking on the button to the left! A. Cavaillé-Coll Organ, originally Paris, France, moved to Mainz, Germany (1877)- - Samples by Prof. Helmut Maier Gigout, Eugène: Scherzo No. 8 from Ten Pieces for Organ, this is about as droll as Gigout gets. Typical ABA construction with a delicate surprise of an ending. [5:35] HW1 Pachelbel, Johann: Magnificat Primi Toni, Part II Fugue 13 uses a 5-note repeated note pattern in its subject, Fugue 14 has a smoother subject with only 3 repeated notes and an expressive drop of a diminished seventh interval, the subject for Fugue 15 uses alternating high and low pitches that seem designed for two feet in the pedal, again quite distinctive, Fugue 16 is based on an agreeable little twisting melody, Fugue 17 is in two voices which are registered on separate divisions, Fugue 18 has a syncopation in it and alternates between a long and short beginning, Fugue 19 uses an upward chromatic pattern and there is a separate countersubject, though only 2 measures long, the subject of Fugue 20 suggests a basic harmonic pattern of I-V-I-IV-I, in cotrast, the 1-measure subject for Fugue 21 can be said to stay in the same key throughout, the first measure of the subject for Fugue 22 shares the same notes as that of Fugue 23, but repeated notes are used in the latter, which is also played on a fuller organ, since it is the last of this large set of fugues. Uses the extended set. [16:4] HW1 Franck, César: Sortie in D Major From Franck's collection "L'Organiste, 59 Pieces for Harmonium" rendered here with judicious pedal on a pipe organ. This playful piece romps through the keys of D Major, B Major, B minor, D Major again, D minor and ends in D Major with a short "Amen." Uses the extended set. [3:53] HW1 Karg-Elert, Sigfrid: Nun Danket, Op. 65, No. 59 A festival prelude where the chorale is the basis for the composition, but it is almost hidden. Beware of extreme dynamic contrasts. Uses the extended set. [3:51] HW1 Franck, César: Chorale I Dedicated to Monsieur Eugène Gigout, this is the first of the monumental Trois Chorals written near the end of Franck's life. [13:7] HW1 Gigout, Eugène: Minuetto No. 2 from Ten Pieces for Organ, this gentle insouciant dance begins and ends with the Hautbois on the Récit. accompanied by the G.O. Harmonic Flûte. Intervening registrations involve foundations and célestes. Pedal adjusted accordingly. [5:35] HW1 Buxtehude, Dietrich: Praeludium in G minor, BuxWV 150 More lyrical and laid back than usual most of the way, but with a strongly angular 5-note motiv that piles repeatedly at the end. [6:33] HW1 Loret, Clément: Prière Loret is credited in the 1895 score as "Organiste de Saint-Louis d'Antin" and this is number 2 from his "Douze Pièces pour Orgue." Thanks to Jonathan Orwig for the score. Uses the extended set. [3:44] HW1 Gigout, Eugène: Grand Choeur Dialogué A dialogue that has been cleverly conceived either for two organs, one with and one without pedal, or for two divisions of the same organ, in the grand French Romantic style. Uses the extended set. [6:38] HW1