Cesar Franck Organ Works

Marcel Dupré - Ben van Oosten - Organ Works Vol. 5
Cavaillé-Coll Organ, Saint-Ouen, Rouen
EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 268 MB | Full Artwork: 123 MB | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: MDG "Gold" # 316 0955-2 | Country/Year: Germany 2003
Genre: Classical | Style: 20th Century, Organ

"…In many ways Dupré may be viewed as a 'Paganini' of the organ - being a virtuoso of the highest order, he contributed extensively to the development of technique (both in his organ music and in his pedagogical works) although, like Paganini, his music is relatively unknown to musicians other than those who play the instrument for which the music was written. A fair and objective critique of his music should take into account the fact that, occasionally, the emphasis on virtuosity and technique can be detrimental to the musical content and substance. However, his more successful works combine this virtuosity with a high degree of musical integrity, qualities found in works such as the Symphonie-Passion, the Chemin de la Croix, the Preludes and Fugues, the Esquisses and Évocation, and the Cortège et Litanie…" ~wikipedia

Marcel Dupré - Ben van Oosten - Organ Works Vol. 1
Cavaillé-Coll-Organ, Saint Ouen, Rouen
EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 177 MB | Full Artwork: 124 MB | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: MDG "Gold" # 316 0951-2 | Country/Year: Germany 1999
Genre: Classical | Style: 20th Century, Organ

"…In many ways Dupré may be viewed as a 'Paganini' of the organ - being a virtuoso of the highest order, he contributed extensively to the development of technique (both in his organ music and in his pedagogical works) although, like Paganini, his music is relatively unknown to musicians other than those who play the instrument for which the music was written. A fair and objective critique of his music should take into account the fact that, occasionally, the emphasis on virtuosity and technique can be detrimental to the musical content and substance. However, his more successful works combine this virtuosity with a high degree of musical integrity, qualities found in works such as the Symphonie-Passion, the Chemin de la Croix, the Preludes and Fugues, the Esquisses and Évocation, and the Cortège et Litanie…" ~wikipedia

Marcel Dupré - Ben van Oosten - Organ Works Vol. 4
Willis-Organ, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin
EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 272 MB | Full Artwork: 119 MB | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: MDG "Gold" # 316 0954-2 | Country/Year: Germany 2002
Genre: Classical | Style: 20th Century, Organ

"…In many ways Dupré may be viewed as a 'Paganini' of the organ - being a virtuoso of the highest order, he contributed extensively to the development of technique (both in his organ music and in his pedagogical works) although, like Paganini, his music is relatively unknown to musicians other than those who play the instrument for which the music was written. A fair and objective critique of his music should take into account the fact that, occasionally, the emphasis on virtuosity and technique can be detrimental to the musical content and substance. However, his more successful works combine this virtuosity with a high degree of musical integrity, qualities found in works such as the Symphonie-Passion, the Chemin de la Croix, the Preludes and Fugues, the Esquisses and Évocation, and the Cortège et Litanie…" ~wikipedia

In 2009 the venue of the Duisburg Philharmonics, the Philharmonie Mercatorhalle, received a new concert organ in the anglo-late romantic style, modeled after the English Town Hall organs of the time. We now present the first solo album featuring the new instrument, with Roland Maria Stangier at the organ.

César Franck gradually abandoned his career as a virtuoso pianist as he completed his training under various Parisian masters, one of whom was the organist François Benoist. Franck then served as organist in various important Parisian churches from 1853 onwards before accepting a position at Sainte-Clotilde, where he benefited from Cavaillé-Coll's brand new instrument. He composed works for the organ as well as in other genres that became part of the apotheosis of what is now termed Le Renouveau français. Franck also composed pieces specifically intended for the harmonium. We are proud to mark the bicentenary of his birth with a reissue of his complete works for organ and for harmonium, in which Joris Verdin's fascinating interpretations have incorporated Franck’s own recently discovered metronome markings.