Virgil Fox Legacy | Symphonie Concertante | Toccata

[DainGerrUsss]

Probably THE best Romantic period composition for organ and orchestra. Vierne and Widor wrote some good things, bu this Toccata, especially when played by SUCH a master as Dr. Fox, gives me chills every time.I hear it, Good orchestra, but I would prefer o hear it live. The organ sound is disappointing, but then again, maybe hearing it live would help.

[gsmonks]

Virgil Fox was a great reminder of LIVING classical music, and drew a generation of young people into the genre through the force of sheer personality PLUS love and true understanding of the art, at a time when classical music was being dragged down by stuffy, mind-numbing fuddy-duddies. If classical music is still around, he's part of the reason why.

[thomasmoredamian]

The one and only...

[clydesight]

Wow, I love it! It's great to see the full orchestra and watch Fox, a true master of the organ! Thanks!

[jumbobobcleo]

holy crap.  that is awsome.

[Offshoreorganbuilder]

This is surely the answer to those gripes who say that Virgil Fox was not a true musician, and had no taste. (How DID he remember it all?!)

[jumbobobcleo]

@Offshoreorganbuilder who said that. ??? he was exceedingly eccentric. and a

great teacher at the museum in cleveland. the little elf was the most exciting

thing you ever wanted to run away from. performance artist. but he was

a musician of magical proportion. and got away with murder because of it. he

kept the king of instruments from dying.

and excited the young to get involved in it. well, young eccentrics anyway.

[Danzig987]

Carilloneur asks where this was recorded ... it's the NHK Symphony Orchestra of Japan, conducted by Heinz Wall-Berg.

[bigsilverdaddy58]

It's very difficult to listen to this music thru the tin can speakers I bought at Office Depot.. I discovered thru a mistake that if you slow the recording down slightly, it becomes more dramatic...I have Most of Foxes LP's ..still crank it up sometimes..

Amazing sound in the original 4 channel stereo..

[carterdriggs]

Virgil, we miss you! Such passion! I wonder if we'll ever see that kind of enthusiasm again.

[organgoesheavy]

@carterdriggs I really agree! My musical credo is " If You will come across, I´ll come across!"

[JollyJollies22]

God smite me down for this...but organ is one of the few instruments that makes me reel in stricken horror...ugh.

[derCarilloneur]

Where is this recorded?

[Danzig987]

@derCarilloneur See my response above.

[tenortobe]

And I think the First trombone and the cymbal player are twins (or the same person)

[tenortobe]

i don't know why but this makes me cry. i think he's a genius. pure and simple

[Enantiodromialist]

WOW, THAT MUST HARDER THAN FLYING THE SPACE SHUTTLE.

This is the most spectacular orchestral showpiece I know of - oh, the organ helps too. :)

I heard this live in Disney Hall a few years ago with Cherry Jones and the LA Phil, one of the most wonderful thing I've ever heard. I play piano, this makes me wish I played organ.

I heard Paul (?) Jacobs' Messiaen marathon at the LA Cathedral a couple years ago, he play "Livre du Saint Sacrement" from memory, fantastic.

[1401JSC]

The pentatonic aspect of certain themes may have been chosen to please an asiatic orchestra and public.

Great stuff. I enjoyed this.

[nameformyskreen]

very racist dude.

[Enantiodromialist]

Huh?

[sekboi]

Really quite amazing. Most organists have a hard time staying in sync with orchestra musicians. They're used to being the entire show. Listen to 1:09 organ and flute/clarinet perfectly together. Really nice.

[Enantiodromialist]

I know what you mean, performers of solo instruments (piano, guitar) have that problem. I was orchestra pianist for a year in school, I did Saint-Saens 3 (piano part) and Pines of Rome, it was a wonderful experience.

[Enantiodromialist]

Do you know Charles Koechlin - French composer from the same period? His biggest orchestra pieces (The Jungle Book, La Buisson Ardent) use the organ as an integral part of the orchestra - for example, a single melodic line along with the solo woodwinds- ,it's one of the most magical things in all music.

[deancook652]

This is only the second performance I've seen of this piece with full orchestra; totally rivals the recording Michael Murray did with the SF Symphony. Love It!

[Operaman41]

This would be a perfect piece for Easter Morning as the prelude.

It has a rising theme and it also has the since of Death,Hell,Sadness being over taken by triumph!!

It would be such an improvement of what is being played in todays church with all that contemporary crap!!

Since everyone wants to clap in church let them have something to really clap about!

[BKU1965]

Though I can fully appreciate your point of view, keep in mind that the apostle Paul made the statement: ".. by all means, win some." Some "worship" more intensely to the classics and a high church setting, some more so in a more modern setting.

After all, we're all striving to meet up in the ultimate destination.

PEACE!

[Bennie347]

Wonderful! That is so true.

[Bennie347]

Of course I agree with Operaman41. The energy of Virgil Fox is sublime...I also love the divertimento-movement! This piece explains why Joseph Jongen won the Grand Prix de Rome!

[orgelfan]

Das ist der hässlichste Spieltisch den ich je gesehen habe.

[polsterj]

Das stimmt, der Spieltisch ist echt erbärmlich. Es gibt so schöne, mit Holztasten, Registrezügen und Schiebekoppeln!

[tekkie56]

this guy's intense.

not even his hands; he just looks crazy.

excellent performance.

[Rockyrog]

I play the Pipe Organ but I am nowhere NEAR Virgil's talent. All I know is what sounds great, and when I went to Virgil Fox's concerts, he was so great. My comment is about the organ he is playing in this video. In my mind, it is one of the most beautiful Pipe Organ COnsoles I've ever seen. None is more attractive!! Thanks to whoever love Virgil am much as I did!!!

[TrompenCham167]

Does anybody know where I can find the specifications to this organ? I do know that It's got a nice set of chamades!

[organist12345]

Become a member of DIE ORGELSEITE

The specs are there!

[tactilex]

Check out the online version of Pipedreams this week for a much higher-fidelity rendering of this performance. (No video, however, just audio.)

[wurlitzer3]

The Virgil Fox Society had this performance available in stereo. I think they eventually found it easier just to make it available on youTube. Unfortunately it now appears only to be monaural.

[silverminer021]

I was about 15 yrs old when Virgil died. My dad would come home from work and "put on Virgil" and we'd all have to suffer through it.

I recall that Fox and John Lennon died the same year and my dad was appalled that "someone like this Lennon fellow gets all this attention and one of the greatist musicians of our time is all but ignored!"

I remember I thought it was kinda of funny that my dad felt that way. NOW I realize how right he was!

[Principal16]

Virgil,we miss you!Come back!You was so good organist!Great performance!

[organace]

i may be mistaken, but this seems to be a mixture of the organ SOLO for this piece AND the organ PART with orchestra.  i may mistaken as well to say that it seems the conductor is trying to keep up with the organ, rather than it be a mutually shared presentation. still beautiful!

fox is full of wonderful exuberance and superb technique! a few small finger errors here and there, i think virgil was battling cancer at this point (performed 1979?) and still he has the stamina for beautiful art!

[AllenOrganCrazy]

I've watched this many times and I don't really feel as though he is pushing speed at all. But I can definitely see that he was ailing from his cancer.

[kennethpace2]

I love this piece, and a rare feature on the triangle at 2:52! What a treat! ;)

[Sxust]

i love this this is like a filmscore music BEUTIFUL

[joeyboi87]

most horrible piece ive ever heard, if you want good organ and orchestra music then id stick to saint saens organ symphony

[aakned]

wow, it would have been amazing if they would have played excerpts from the saint-saens.

[FervusFulgar7]

Really now? While The Symphony #3 is quite amazing this is no squalid ditty! To each there own, I enjoy both.

[AllenOrganCrazy]

how could you say something like that!! Virgil Fox was the best and always will be..and don't you forget it!! This piece is an amazing piece..have you written any organ music?! Probably not..don't criticize other peoples work if you don't have any of your own! THANK YOU.

[julorg]

On September the 27th, Peter Richard Conte and The Philadelphia Orchestra will perform the Jongen Symphonie Concertante at Macy's, on the Wamanaker Organ !

[ecwaufisxtreme]

Awesome performance.

[latribe]

Really fantastic and exciting piece! Thanks for posting it! Can't imagine where you'd put something as pedantic as a music stand on that console.

[muzical15]

Truly AMAZING!!! I hope the legacy of Virgil Fox is carried on by another great performer someday...

:D

[FourFootFagott]

Ever hear of Cameron Carpenter? He's got the music and technique down, all he needs is the charisma and interaction with his audience and all will be well. FFF

[muzical15]

yes. Cameron is very good. I've seen him in concert 2 times and I was stunned by the technical abiliaty that he had...maybe he will be the next fox...;^)

[RDW1935]

Can anyone even imagine how much they had to pay Virgil Fox for coming over there to play in that Hall.. That magnificent instrument+!!!

What a superb job he did that day!!

[Principal16]

where´s that organ?

[akiramit]

The NHK Hall in Tokyo.

[platero55]

The Symphonie Concertante is such a joyful piece, and Virgil Fox is the man for the job. Love his spirit and exuberance!

[bccptw]

My university orchestra played the entire Jongen "Symphonie Concertante" (all four movements) twice during my years in college. I played bass clarinet the first time, and 2nd clarinet the second time. Both 1st and 2nd clarinet parts have finger-flying passageworks through the course of this movement. 'Twas challenging, but very exhilarating!

Thanks for posting the video. Great performance!

[wurli815]

Hey "acoustics101" - if you got to hear Virgil Fox on that wonderful Robert Morton theatre organ in the Ohio Theatre, you are lucky as hell. I only know of one other Fox performance on a theatre organ, and that was on the former NY Paramount Wulitzer in Wichita, Kansas. I have the recording from that concert and it is really something special to hear him play a theatre organ. But to hear it live, well .....

[cochbillcallahan]

Terrific!

[paranormaalutrecht]

brilliantttttttt briiiiiiiiiiiiilliant..

[GazTheMusicMan]

Most impressive!

[OrganistInTraining]

seriously. memorized? that makes my fingers cramp just looking at it. hes my hero =]

[mogemoets]

I'm SO glad that Dr. Fox is your hero!

It shows your inherent good taste and

fine upbringing.

<< SOME PEOPLE >> think Dr. Fox was

not...well------not << ONE of US >>

The Jongen recording proves that he indeed was

the greatest organist that ever lived...!

Martin

[acoustics101]

I was lucky enough to have actually heard the great Virgil Fox perform once at the Ohio Theatre in Columbus, OH during the 1970s. It was an unforgettable experience! I also happen to have this piece on a direct to disk Crystal Clear Record recorded at the Garden Grove Community Church before there was a Crystal Cathedral.

[ihadaralf]

The glissando is in the score,as Jongen intended. You don't leave it out simply for effect.If you do,you're robbing the work of it's coup de theatre,the surprise of the evening.The work is sumptuous,glorious and powerfully un-Belguim like in it's emotional presence.

ISpannonian, you have no taste.Where are you from? Mars.

[pwoody1685]

The famous glissando at the end is most definately NOT in the score (I'm looking at it right now). I won't deny that it is effective, but it is an accretion, not an essential. Similarly, in the first movement, 4 after rehearsal 15, Fox insists on changing the rhythm. He does this here, and on his well-known recording. Brains and fingers, but sometimes not very good taste.

[paranormaalutrecht]

you don't decide what good taste is for other people... you find it like that, I think that fox is extremely creative... 5 points extra!

[octave4]

Every performer adds, or provides their own interpretation of any piece they play. That is why each new orchestral conducter records their version of the classics. If U want to hear the same piece played same way by every performer, get a acomputer. What is wrong with changing rhythm? Interpretation.

[bf1973]

What type of organ is this...they showed pipes at some point. Is it hooked up to them or selfcontained

it's a very loud piece, i think i prefer solo organ music like bach.

[vcsorgan]

It's a Schueke V/90 in Tokyo's NHK Hall.

Not a Romantic Reed on it! And a tremulant that will make you seasick!

[octave4]

You can tell it is a Schuke by the computer style console with the push button stops. Similar to Seoul VI-97. Just a big bqroque organ with wery thin voicing. It takes 90 stops to be heard. Organist cannot be equallled by anyone but Fred Swann. How do you have a tracker with a detached and moveable console???

[vcsorgan]

Yes the organ is a Schuke, but the console is by another builder, I've forgotten which, because Shuke did not have the capability to build an electronic action.

Funny thing, players say how light the touch of the action on the tracker (attached) console when the manuals are coupled. What they do not know and of course neither NHK nor Shuke will say it, the minute a coupler is operated, the electric pull-downs come into action!

[octave4]

Are you certain. THere is an identical console here in Korea in the SeJong Music Hall - a 6 manual, 97 rank with the similar detached console. Of course it is played with electric pull down magnets. The stops are pushdown - similar to Microswith push on push off stop controls. Personally it is ugly as sin. NONE of the Euro builders admit to electrics in anything they build over 30 stops. The electric action is by Laukguff and electronics by Peterson or Mathers of England.

[vcsorgan]

I checked my data, and I see that the electric console was built by Heuss as Shuke had no

experience with this kind of instrument.

[octave4]

How interesting. By deduction then, the Seoul 1978 console must be theirs also. Truly ugly. This 6 manual so tall-you must put your foot on the expression pedals to reach the top keyboard without falling onto the console. This could be a nice 4 manual organ. Schuke had to stretch the thing out for visual impression & reduce number of stops per division. Thank you for the research.

[paulbinko]

June 1977 - June 2007 - 30 years ago this month!

[tamias6]

Beautiful! Stunning!

[sheepfokker1]

Virgil was the first to do a digital recording. Unfortunately this wasn't it. Virgil did more for the pipe organ than anybody alive or dead. Even though he has departed, his spirit is very much alive.

[Timotheus10]

I know only one organist. I know she can play like this. But she's been reading music for as long as I can remember. I never re-learned how to read music. It's amazing for me. Is there some secret?

[poppyline]

Potrebbe esibirsi nelle fiere di paese: ha la physique du role e il cattivo gusto necessari...

[dottmau]

Quoto appieno

[Christopher81]

I play a glissando at the end of this work, my mother does, my grandmother did, as do Jean Guillou, Michael Murray, and as did Catherine Crozier and many others. I think it's more rare that people do NOT play the glissando.  =)

[Bachlives2]

My organ teacher didn't I think he accompanied the orchestra I am not sure I will have to ask him if he does or not.

[mendax1773]

Virgil Fox was always the Elton John of the organ although more subdue than Sir Elton. He loved what he did but he was a first-class jerk when it came to theater management and staff, or so an old theater eletrician I knew once told me who had the displeasure of having to deal with him in Texas. But we can forgive tyrants who play so marvelously.

[Bachlives2]

Why does he add the glissando at the end of every loud bombastic piece? It gets tacky but he is the coolest organist in the world!

[Cramnella]

I have 3 recordings of this piece: Fox's and 2 others. One has the glissando; the other doesn't. I think it makes the ending.

[mendax1773]

I have 5 recordings of the orchestral version. Of those 5, only two have the glissando, Fox and Michael Murray. I don't know why other performers don't add it. It really makes the ending much more exciting.

[PSIPdetroit]

I had the privilege of seeing Dr. Fox perform this piece with the Detroit Symphony. Unfortunately its was at Ford Auditorium and Richard Hyman was conducting.

I get goose flesh every time I hear it.

[DesireeDeFete]

What some people don't know is that Virgil, in this video, is not only playing the part actually written for the Organ soloist, but he is also playing a reduction of the parts for all of the orchestral instruments. He was the first to transcribe the entire piece for Organ solo. He played the entire orcestra parts, plus the organ solo parts. That became so programed in his body, that he could not play it any other way. Amaxing!

[robertgift]

Are you sure? Doesn't look or sound like that here.

But I can understand becoming used to performing something and having to adjust to a new performance.

Live in concert is not the best place to make the change.

[vcsorgan]

Virgil payed his own transcription of the whole

Symphony many times, doing the orchestra parts as well.

He was so in that habit that he often played parts of the orchestra, to the concern of the conductor. He told me that he turned off all the stops on one manual, so he could play as he usually did, but no sound coming from the organ at that point. I was there and can attest to it.

[afdcomposer]

i'm so glad we don't build consoles to look like that or wear coats like that anymore. great stuff, though.

[DesireeDeFete]

Whats wrong with Virgils coat?

Rieger builds consoles liek that ALL the time!

So does Steiner Reck.

Thenew Rieger at the Shanghai Oriental Arts Center has a console that looks almost the same, and its a new organ.

[vcsorgan]

Sorry, it's not a Rieger, but a V/90 Scheuke

in NHK Hall in Tokyo. I know, I've played it often, both the stage and attached console.

[HarperLady]

Oh wow. What a treat. I have a recording of Fox playing this (on an LP!), but this is a first for seeing him. This is such an inspiration. It is a difficult piece, but he makes it look so easy!

[guitar0707]

what a performance !

[MoneyManTC]

You can really tell that he LOVED what he did. You could see how his face lit up as he was playing.

[Rockyrog]

During most of Virgil Fox's concerts he never had music sheets propped up in front of him, did he?!

Like in this Toccata he's playing. It's a far out idea but I wonder if all the GREAT ORGANS he played, didn't take possession of his body. The KING OF INSTRUEMNTS ~ THE ORGAN... OWNED HIM! He played them

as THEY wanted to be played! Without mistakes and without the use of music sheets~!!! Wonderfully done!

[OPHYCLIDE]

We must be listening to different recordings.

I can hear plenty of mistakes!

[rbunbury]

It's fox all the way. The organ, the player and the piece are perfectly matched.

[Christopher81]

His registration is not "too bright". I have played this work NUMEROUS times and you have to have a lot of brilliance through use of the Mixtures to "combat" the forcefullness of the brass.

[bladeboi2]

^^ My organ teacher played in a concert with him - he was a really nice guy, abit flamboyant but very charismatic, apparently. Look at the website if you want to find more music of just him with equal amount of flash to the music he produces!

[Mystep]

Lots of flash, but not much music. Sorry to say that because he looks like such a nice dude.

[bladeboi2]

ABSOULTELY AMAZING. He's well before my time, but I hope that was his last performance. It was a fitting way for him to end. Look at his face when he enters the penultimate bar.

[Quintaton]

This is organ virtuosity at its finest and most compelling. Sad to think that Virgil Fox had learned that he was terminally-ill when this performance was played, because it is so full of life.

[badon20]

Hands never stop!!! Amazing!!!

[Bulacanos]

Redonkulous

[Organgrinder010]

Maybe its just the recording and compression, but I think that organ is a bit to bright. I don't always agree with Fox's registrations.

[Christopher81]

Virgil Fox did not compose this work. This is the Toccata (final work of a 4 movement symphony) by Joseph Jongen. Virgil Fox did arrange a solo score of the Toccata for the organ.

[blackberryjuice]

That was a stunning performance. My organ professor played this concerto 2 years ago with the school orchestra... such a wonderful piece, and I love his energy- it simply sparkles!

[badon20]

I actully like this organ. Neat looking organ! Great Toccata! Was this written by Virgil Fox! Virgil Fox was way before my time. BUT I truely enjoy his works and wish I could find more vids on him@!

[ronanmurray]

Awesome. Shame it's a horrible neo-classical organ though!