The Organ Forum

Orgrinder,

Well, if  I'm going to dream, I might as well dream big!

I would have loved to play the organ part in a live performance of Mahler's Symphony No. 8, with Leonard Bernstein conducting.  I've been lucky enough to hear it performed live twice, both times with the New York Philharmonic, once with Pierre Boulez conducting, the other with James Levine.  I get chills just thinking about the experience!  To participate in a performance of that incomparable masterwork would be a thrill.

And, in a different realm, it would have been a dream come true to have played the Hammond B3 with Jimmy Smith, accompanied by a screaming big band, with Claus Ogerman or Lalo Schifrin conducting one of their great jazz arrangements!  We'd jam until the Leslies melted.    

I would love to be able to play Messiaen's Dieu Parmi Nous... Someday!

:) 

Nathan's 'stolen' mine! Love that Saint Saens, and definitely spine-tingling.

If I can't have that, I'll go theatre organ and say 'Slaughter on 10th Avenue'. I can play part of it, but never learnt it all, and never played in on pipes. Nearest I got was the Conn 652.

Andy

I'd love to try a long compostition of my own of some sort. I have an idea of writing a really long fantasia for organ with sections comprising of every single type and genre of music I can think of - and that would be possible on an organ...which of course anything is!!!!

And of course, the entire Saint-Saens symphony!

 Jezza

soundboarddude:

Ironically enough, someone gave me a CD today with the Saint Saens. Great piece!

Which recording?  I've always thought the classic RCA with Munch and the BSO to be the best, all things considered.  The sound has held up surprisingly well.  Truly a magisterial performance.

My dream piece: the Percy Whitlock Organ Sonata.   

andyg:

If I can't have [the Saint-Saens], I'll go theatre organ and say 'Slaughter on 10th Avenue'. I can play part of it, but never learnt it all, and never played in on pipes.

Do you have a favourite or recommended recording?  I have a nifty recording with George Wright (Boston Skyline 122), but, myself, I have only played it on the piano. 

Mine is Leo Sowerby's Pageant, which is why I'm working on it right now.

Although, I can no longer work on it on full throttle as I did not too long ago as I had to alter my program for an exam I'm going after. So while I am working on it, I have to pay more attention to the other pieces I am working on (which are beautiful and I do love playing them too) just for now.

andyg:

Nathan's 'stolen' mine! Love that Saint Saens, and definitely spine-tingling.

I guess great minds think alike.

soubasse32:

I'll also add these to my list:

Messiaen: Transports de Joie

I played Transports de Joie for a competition (that I won ) a few years ago, and it really is extremely satisfying to play live. However, I just can't seem to keep it in my fingers. To be honest, when I sit down with it now I can scarcely believe I could *ever* play it. Definitely, that's one piece that I need to work on over and over and over to get it right.

Mine would have to be the Passacaglia in c minor by old J.S. Bach.  That piece just scares me.  I never get tired of listening to it.  And I've been listening to it once a day or so.

For the past THREE YEARS.

I think I have issues...

Pipedreamer,

Most of us endure the daily grind; you crave your daily "ground."

Instead of just listening to the Passacaglia  day after day, start practicing it.  It's conveniently divided into eight-bar sections, some of which aren't all that difficult.  Yes, the triplets variation is tricky, but you can do it--one variation at a time!  And the pedal part's a cinch (until you get to the fugue). 

Although I've performed it 'live' a number of times, I still never tire of a great performance of the Prelude & Fugue in E Minor (The Wedge).  For me, this remains Bach's most exciting and magnificent organ P&F.

At least you're not obsessing over Pachelbel's Canon!