10 FAMOUS CATHEDRAL ORGANS

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10 FAMOUS CATHEDRAL ORGANS - Various Composers - Various Organists - 5055354414640 - Released: July 2022 - Alto Records ALC1464

The Organ of Coventry Cathedral played by Noel Rawsthorne:
- Verdi: Grand March from Aïda
The Organ of Salisbury Cathedral played by David Halls:
- Elgar: Imperial March
- Sousa: The Liberty Bell (BBC "Monty Python" theme)
The Organ of Westminster Cathedral played by David Hill:
- Saint-Saëns: Fantasie in E-Flat Major
- Vierne: Carillon de Westminster
The Organ of Winchester Cathedral played by David Hill:
- Whitlock: Scherzo (from 5 Short Pieces)
- Whitlock: Paean (from 5 Short Pieces)
The Organ of York Minster played by Francis Jackson:
- Cocker: Tuba Tune
- Boëllmann: Toccata from Suite Gothique
The Organ of St Paul's Cathedral played by Christopher Dearnley:
- Trad arr. Dearnley: Londonderry Air "O Danny Boy"
The Organ of Kings College Chapel, Cambridge played by Stephen Cleobury:
- Prizeman: Toccata (BBC "Songs of Praise" theme)
- Widor: Toccata from Symphony No. 5
The Organ of Hereford Cathedral played by Roy Massey:
- Lemare: Andantino "Moonlight and Roses"
The Organ of Guildford Cathedral played by Barry Rose:
- Clarke arr. Rose: Trumpet Voluntary
The Organ of Wells Cathedral played by Andrew Nethsingha:
- Bach: Sleepers Awake
- Elgar: Nimrod from Enigma Variations
- Lefébure-Wély: Sortie in E-Flat Major
The Organ of Royal Albert Hall, London played by Simon Preston:
- Bossi: Etude Symphonique

Heaps of gratitude must go to Alto Records, one of the finer labels dedicated to the restoration and restitution of older yet still highly respectable recordings, for bringing together this superlative collection of iconic pipe organ pieces performed by master organists on some of the best instruments available. Pipe organ music enthusiasts will be glad to find all of these unrelated 1973-93 recordings all gathered together on the same disc.

From the baroque nobility of Bach's Sleepers Awake to Sousa's whimsical The Liberty Bell made infamous as the theme for the Monty Python television series. It's all there, including the heavyweights like Louis Vierne's Carillon de Westminster and Widor's famous Toccata from Symphony No. 5. All of these pieces not only demonstrate the musician's technical abilities, but also well display each and every instrument's tonal versatility and capabilities, from the softest flute stops down to 32' Bombarde pedal stops. The Trumpet stops of Coventry Cathedral are a thrill to listen to, as well as the delicate Vox Humana and string stops of Hereford Cathedral. And despite the fact that these recordings took place at different times in different locations, it's hard to tell them apart since all of the audio engineers involved were legendary in their field.

Any and all serious pipe organ music collectors need this CD in their collection, and novices and newcomers would have a hard time finding a better assembled assortment anywhere, considering all of the famous pieces and fine instruments it covers.

Jean-Yves Duperron - July 2022