This is my most favorite of all organ compositions. It is also very difficult to master. I will listen to this often. I have the music for this and there is more ink than white paper!
One of the very few best versions of the Toccata. Well done,Super. If you hadn't disabled the rating, you'd have got 8 stars. Well, you have them now anyway. I have always been fascinated by organ players; 3 or 4 keybords + a "footboard" and all those buttons on either side. Plus the skill it requires to master a monster like a church organ and the music you play. Utterly amazing.
Very nice! I love this organ piece and you play it very well. I don't know much about the pipe organ, but I'm always impressed that organists not only play complicated polyphony with both hands, but their feet as well. Thanks for the video.
i must say that you have played it perfectly the way that the tempo was origialy played. as an organ player my slef that was 100% perfect! i love those large organs, they have a proffessional big and powerful sound, and they look so grand dont you agree? anyway beautafully played
The Toccata tempos vary widely. Virgil Fox played it fastest at barely over 4 minutes. Widor himself was close to 6.5 minutes and if memory serves, he often complained that everyone played it too fast. Given that the the moving figure is indicated as staccato and if one is to follow the composer's wishes, there is a limit to how fast it can be played. By the way Peter Hurford's time is 6:22 - Widor's tempo and it is a spectacular performance - my favorite.
It really loses some of the power and dignity that it has when it's rushed. However, remember that Widor was playing in St Sulpice with 7-9 seconds of reverb. I'm playing in barely 2 at best (that is, when no one else is there!). You must make up for the lack of reverb with tempo. When I played this piece at St. Mary the Virgin in New York, I played it slower. Half the organ is the room itself. Thanks for your comment!
THIS is the right tempo for this piece. There is a recording of this on YouTube from Notre Dame in Paris, played nearly at this tempo as well. Great job.
There's a recording of Widor himself playing this piece. Oddly enough, he plays it slower than I've ever heard. Still sounds great, but with a very different character.
I think this tempo is perfect. As this was my mother's favourite piece of organ music, we recently had it played at her funeral. The organist was very happy to play it and commented that it was the first time he had played it at such an occasion. It was very moving and totally appropriate.
Now this is a much better recording than one I have previously heard on YouTube. The other recording was way too fast . This is the one I grew up with at boarding school
Nice to hear this at a sensible speed - I find most recordings too fast, losing all of the articulation (i.e. all of the right-hand staccato). I'm glad somebody remembers that Toccato means 'touch' not 'as fast as you can play it'! Well done.
I hate people that play too fast, any organ music that is. The notes are there to be heard, not get lost in a bunch of others, or in the reverb of a building.
I think people rush the tempo because they get carried away by the music, the temptation is to play it quickly, the hidden challenge to play slowly. It's very majestic and expressive and deserves to be played at a steady pace to give it time to speak.
I used to go to a church in Reading, Pennsylvania. One day I decided to go onto their website and they have a pretty good mp3 of Widor's toccata by the organist there.
If anyone wants to hear it I can give you the url adress.
thanks, but I know it is not a song; right after I submitted the comment I realized I'd put "song" and I knew sooner or later someone would correct me.
LOVE This piece!!! I'm definitely having it at my wedding if I ever get married!!! It has all the grandeur and majesty and purity that should be part of a true marriage :o)
nice.... a little bit faster (20 notes pm) will be nicer I think> What Widor did is not important. it is important to play, how you like to do. But a very great perfomance you had...... Very nice. A real great job!
Thanks for your suggestion and compliments! I think, however, (especially in a better room), I'll keep it at a slower tempo. But I do appreciate your kind words and comment!
Nice Job. I'm glad that there are some people who don't play this song as fast as they can, instead they play it the right way. This song sounds good fast, but it sounds MUCH BETTER slower.
Well Done! The speed with which you propel this piece is absolutely correct. I used(!) to have a recording of Widor himself playing it THAT piece at Saint Sulpice at the age of 87(!) and can confirm that your speed is indeed his very own speed!
Good job and played at a nice speed. I just returned from Paris and while there visited St. Sulpice, the church where Widor played and composed this piece. There is so much reverb from the building and instrument, I am sure that Widor would not have rushed this piece at all...
ah the closing music to my wedding. :)
Konuvis 2 years ago
such an amazing perfomance again!
its such a pleasure to listen to musicians as gifted as you are!
katyfel 2 years ago
great performance!!
minimotzart 2 years ago
"this is a great song in my opninion... "
its not a song its a organ compostion!!!
danieldevallpb 3 years ago
This is my most favorite of all organ compositions. It is also very difficult to master. I will listen to this often. I have the music for this and there is more ink than white paper!
DeltaAlphaDeltaOne 3 years ago 2
I want to play this tooooo
Gspijkenisse 2 years ago
ditto about the disabled ratings. one of the best versions I've heard. bravo!
bbbartolo 3 years ago
10 x 10 stars!
*What a version!*
Every Christmas this is my joy, at the Midnight Mass, but...
;_; It's incredible - God bless you!
otrolog 3 years ago
It's so awesome -- I'm just speechless. The Voice of G-D. Yes it is. I'm just in tears.
otrolog 3 years ago
Great performance! I only wish it had been in Jones Hall instead. Are they really renovating Roxy-Grove?
eheadstream 3 years ago
Perfect speed. Very important with this piece dont you think?
violator9696 3 years ago 6
One of the very few best versions of the Toccata. Well done,Super. If you hadn't disabled the rating, you'd have got 8 stars. Well, you have them now anyway. I have always been fascinated by organ players; 3 or 4 keybords + a "footboard" and all those buttons on either side. Plus the skill it requires to master a monster like a church organ and the music you play. Utterly amazing.
shangqinli 3 years ago 4
Cody, I'm sending it to you in a private message. Thanks!
superoctave 3 years ago
Absolutely wonderful
berniecook 3 years ago
bravissimo
gdansk123 3 years ago
i love it!
witexdaw 3 years ago
this is a great song in my opninion...
tyuru2 4 years ago
WOW - what a treat to hear such a wonderful piece of music - and my favourite piece of organ music I must add.
Congratulations must go to whoever put it on this site for me to enjoy time after time.
Brings back some wonderful memories of a wonderful wedding day for me!
kev241 4 years ago 2
You have a great talent keep posting your concerts.
Kaydebee 4 years ago
Don't you love the Roxy Grove organ? I just wish that hall was bigger to do the sound of that instrument more justice. Well played!
wadejt1975 4 years ago
Very nice! I love this organ piece and you play it very well. I don't know much about the pipe organ, but I'm always impressed that organists not only play complicated polyphony with both hands, but their feet as well. Thanks for the video.
hedwigamarie 4 years ago
i must say that you have played it perfectly the way that the tempo was origialy played. as an organ player my slef that was 100% perfect! i love those large organs, they have a proffessional big and powerful sound, and they look so grand dont you agree? anyway beautafully played
gamecrazy132 4 years ago
The Toccata tempos vary widely. Virgil Fox played it fastest at barely over 4 minutes. Widor himself was close to 6.5 minutes and if memory serves, he often complained that everyone played it too fast. Given that the the moving figure is indicated as staccato and if one is to follow the composer's wishes, there is a limit to how fast it can be played. By the way Peter Hurford's time is 6:22 - Widor's tempo and it is a spectacular performance - my favorite.
wurlitzer3 4 years ago 2
It really loses some of the power and dignity that it has when it's rushed. However, remember that Widor was playing in St Sulpice with 7-9 seconds of reverb. I'm playing in barely 2 at best (that is, when no one else is there!). You must make up for the lack of reverb with tempo. When I played this piece at St. Mary the Virgin in New York, I played it slower. Half the organ is the room itself. Thanks for your comment!
superoctave 4 years ago
Peter Hurford is my favourite as well. I find he has the right speed and passion ... well that is just me :)
AvalonWizard 4 years ago
played very well indeed, I can never play this at the perfect tempo, always play it a bit too fast!!
joeyboi87 4 years ago
THIS is the right tempo for this piece. There is a recording of this on YouTube from Notre Dame in Paris, played nearly at this tempo as well. Great job.
musicalwatch 4 years ago
There's a recording of Widor himself playing this piece. Oddly enough, he plays it slower than I've ever heard. Still sounds great, but with a very different character.
gr8asb8 4 years ago
Good tempo, as it should be played...rather than as if the organist is dying for the toilet.
gjmrs 4 years ago 3
LOL. funny.
AvalonWizard 4 years ago
I think this tempo is perfect. As this was my mother's favourite piece of organ music, we recently had it played at her funeral. The organist was very happy to play it and commented that it was the first time he had played it at such an occasion. It was very moving and totally appropriate.
Southrepps 4 years ago 3
haha that's gotta be stephen morris turning pages..who is this anyway?
larryranger 4 years ago
Your performance was EXCELLENT!!!!! I loved your registrations. How old are you?
tdavidray 4 years ago
I agree with everyone else... your speed is PERFECT. Your registrations are PERFECT. And that organ is pretty awesome! :-)
benz981 4 years ago
oh my goodness, amazing, I am going to build an organ (a small one) so that i can play most of this.
firefly2009 4 years ago
Now this is a much better recording than one I have previously heard on YouTube. The other recording was way too fast . This is the one I grew up with at boarding school
steinwaygrande1 4 years ago
Nice to hear this at a sensible speed - I find most recordings too fast, losing all of the articulation (i.e. all of the right-hand staccato). I'm glad somebody remembers that Toccato means 'touch' not 'as fast as you can play it'! Well done.
rebusfan 4 years ago
I hate people that play too fast, any organ music that is. The notes are there to be heard, not get lost in a bunch of others, or in the reverb of a building.
gooseholla 4 years ago
You're absolutely right, although I must say that a good amount of reverb *does* help!
superoctave 4 years ago
Yes, reverb a little help, a lot kills it. Btw, don't think I am implying that you played too fast.
gooseholla 4 years ago
I think people rush the tempo because they get carried away by the music, the temptation is to play it quickly, the hidden challenge to play slowly. It's very majestic and expressive and deserves to be played at a steady pace to give it time to speak.
madgirl414 4 years ago
I used to go to a church in Reading, Pennsylvania. One day I decided to go onto their website and they have a pretty good mp3 of Widor's toccata by the organist there.
If anyone wants to hear it I can give you the url adress.
codeman2008 4 years ago
ludwig123456789,
thanks, but I know it is not a song; right after I submitted the comment I realized I'd put "song" and I knew sooner or later someone would correct me.
codeman2008 4 years ago
LOVE This piece!!! I'm definitely having it at my wedding if I ever get married!!! It has all the grandeur and majesty and purity that should be part of a true marriage :o)
Rosiemoore 4 years ago
nice.... a little bit faster (20 notes pm) will be nicer I think> What Widor did is not important. it is important to play, how you like to do. But a very great perfomance you had...... Very nice. A real great job!
Greetings from The Netherlands.
paranormaalutrecht 4 years ago
Thanks for your suggestion and compliments! I think, however, (especially in a better room), I'll keep it at a slower tempo. But I do appreciate your kind words and comment!
superoctave 4 years ago
yes----this recording rocks!
yes---the acoustic in Roxy Grove stinks.
yes-----the Ruffati Organ is the TICKET!
Looks like Stephen Morris turing pages for you.
Martin
mogemoets 4 years ago
Nice Job. I'm glad that there are some people who don't play this song as fast as they can, instead they play it the right way. This song sounds good fast, but it sounds MUCH BETTER slower.
codeman2008 4 years ago
You are right, why does everyone play this at such a fast tempo?
uptown132 4 years ago
It is not a song but a Toccata movement which is part of an Organ Symphony. A song is something you sing this is pure instrumental music for Organ
ludwig123456789 4 years ago
he is pretty good! better than me thats the truth
kelltx 4 years ago
Well Done! The speed with which you propel this piece is absolutely correct. I used(!) to have a recording of Widor himself playing it THAT piece at Saint Sulpice at the age of 87(!) and can confirm that your speed is indeed his very own speed!
raffles247 4 years ago
well done! you play in great style
Poekiemolens 4 years ago
Good job and played at a nice speed. I just returned from Paris and while there visited St. Sulpice, the church where Widor played and composed this piece. There is so much reverb from the building and instrument, I am sure that Widor would not have rushed this piece at all...
jdp0136 4 years ago
Wow, this is great!
cleanswab49 4 years ago
LOL Lemme guess...good ole Roxy Grove
DesireeDeFete 4 years ago
very well played...
ipswich2286 4 years ago
The acoustics of this hall are seeming very poor. You played this so very, very well.
wheidelberg 4 years ago
The acoustics are very poor. Hopefully they will be somewhat better after renovations. Thanks for the compliment!
superoctave 4 years ago
Ruffatti Organs Are GREAT!!
AllenOrganCrazy 4 years ago
Well they are at least greater than what Allen makes, and calls an organ.
GrandeChoeur 4 years ago
GrandeChoeur responding to AllenOrganCrazy:
"Well they are at least greater than what Allen makes, and calls an organ."
I think the poorest excuse for a pipe organ would sound better than an Allen thing, or any other organ imitation. Great rendition, superoctave!
ccoraxfan 4 years ago
Thanks! Sorry the video quality isn't better. This piece was especially hard because the room is so dry and the organ is neo-baroque (ick).
superoctave 4 years ago
Very nice. I like how it is a great medium tempo. Too many people play it way too fast! Thanks for posting!
GrandeChoeur 4 years ago
Finally!!! Someone can play it at the right speed!!!
stampy159 4 years ago