VIRGIL FOX Toccata from Fifth Symphony (Widor)

[Peronter77]

thumbs up if u love virgil fox

[nosecone5921]

It's great hearing amazing music like this at speed, and stuff the non-constructive criticism. Music is meant to be fun, and lots of fun is to be had when things get fast and loud. Awesome!

[Musique3579]

Way too fast. The notes get all thrown away when played at this tempo.

[obyce15]

Widorova Toccata má byť odohraná v pomalšom tempe,aby bolo rozoznať každú jednu notu

[lppatmore]

This is the playing of a man who sniffed too much glue as a child. There's no question that Fox had amazing technical ability, but this, even with these dry acoustics, is too fast to let the organ "speak."

[ernestmskinner]

I agree that it is played too fast but I think it was just another attempt by Virgil to show off his skill. I also agree that the Frederick Hohman version on this site is the best and gives a rare listen to the magnum opus Schantz organ. As usual when I listen to a Virgil Fox recording, I focus on his playing of the pedal organ. So deft and deliberate is Virgil's playing of the pedal, it is almost like he has a third hand instead of the dangling appendages that many organists have.

[laname323]

one reason he played so fast was to give the same musical expression that the works would have in large european churches. in usa the acoustics and organs are not built for long resonanating washes of sound; in europe the churches are built for that. he recreated the orgiinal musical sense of european music by playing it fast. his technique is incomparable (barring the non-musical carpenter)

[mountainsong100]

@laname323 Thank heavens someone recognizes the non musical Carpenter. All fluff, and sparkles, like an octapus over the organ console, but where's the musical line ? When all the hype wears off what will be left is just a memory.

[silverstartrucker]

I am a huge fan of Virgil Fox and his music, especially when played on the Wanamaker organ. However, this rather too fast and in my humble opinion the best version on Youtube is the live version by Frederick Hohman.

[bige002000]

Well, I will rephrase. It was as good as someone who was dying with cancer, and in almost constant pain could get. Just the fact that he could still performe like that was a miracle. If there was anyone who could play anything as well as he could in his prime, I would love to meet tham.

[AeolianSkinner1983]

@bige002000 This recording was made at Riverside Church in 1958 he wasn't that old!! This recording is actually pretty good. It was when he got older and still tried playing like he was in his 30's was when his playing sounded like mush! In his prime back in the 1940-60's yes there were no organist in America t who could match him. I'm sure in Europe there were plenty who could though!

[aliasxr]

In music like in most art, it is perfectly fine to make your own interpretation, just not all will agree with it, this is sort of like looking at pop art when you have a passion for renaissance. I think this is far better with the tempo turned down personally, but each to their own I suppose.

[organmanification]

Perfection in every sense of the word. Truly one of the greatest organist to have ever lived. This is how this is suppose to be played by the master

[canuckguy2005]

This has got to be one of the worst performances of Widor's Toccata that I've ever heard. I've heard a recording of Widor playing this himself on the organ at St. Sulpice. Fox's interpretation is not even musical and he even went so far as to change some critical structures breaking Widor's intended rhythm. His registrations also left something to be desired. I agree with prestant54200. It is playing without a soul.

[bige002000]

Let me tell you something, yes he did play fast, but with such perfection, he was the absolute leader in the ranks of organists, and a total genious when it came to getting the correct sounding for what ever the piece he played, and it's interpreitation. By the way, did I mention he did this all from memory? All the major organ works he performed was never done with music in front of him. He was the best, and left a huge void when he left us.

[steeeeevve]

@bige002000 This is not perfect!!

[ericoschmitt]

@steeeeevve theres no "perfect" interpretation. for perfect timing and tuning just listen to a midi file.

[steeeeevve]

@ericoschmitt and YOU just listen to his playing!

[ericoschmitt]

@steeeeevve whats wrong with you? is the 1 note wrong in the middle of those hundreds? i bet you cant make 1% of what he does, and you still coplain that this is not perfect.

[steeeeevve]

@ericoschmitt If you would care to respond with correct spelling etc, I will reply.

[ericoschmitt]

@steeeeevve my first language is portuguese. i see you like "perfect" things. music, written english.... so KILL YOURSELF because you are not perfect. seriously

[steeeeevve]

@ericoschmitt 3.28!

[prestant54200]

this music is only metronomic, too fast and without a soul! In France this organ would be banned!

[silverstartrucker]

I once had a vynil album with Carlo Curley playing his travelling Electronic organ. My Curley plays this piece unbelievably fast, much faster than Virgil here. To hear this piece played at the right speed, watch and listen to the brilliant organist Frederick Hohman on youtube.

[MelosAntropon]

@silverstartrucker , you nailed it! Hohman's recording of this is PERFECTION.

But then Hohman is an organist who is a master of "fine detail", and as the saying goes, "God is in the details". YESSSS!

[silverstartrucker]

@MelosAntropon - Of course, I did realise that after I put the comment on. I will remove my comment.

[aliasxr]

@MelosAntropon I think the Englishman Jonathan Scott plays this about the best I have heard for clarity and tempo of the piece. I think he has a slight edge on Hohman, perhaps just in the recording quality from an organ which has a digital element to it.

[MelosAntropon]

@aliasxr: Interestingly, the one other recording of this on YouTube that I commented on as being one of the very best was Jonathon Scotts!

[notredameswarrior1]

hes playing it a little fast but he is outstanding!

[MrsAlexisClyde]

this certainly is one "foxy" interpretation. Certainly too fast for my own personal preference. However, I really do find that the piece invokes a completely unique power and energy when played with such technical excellence. I am of course ecstatic hearing it played SO vivaciously once in a while.

[eameece]

Brilliant performance. Technical defects, if any, are too small to notice. Widor liked the piece played slower, but because fast performance generally takes out the feeling. Sometimes that happens with Fox, but not here. As he does often, he gives the music passion, and it shows through here despite (and partly because of) the speed!

[JohnBoyDeere]

Hey! At least he could play it fast... His supposed "sorry" playing was still better than 99% of the rest of us "organists"!

[legamature]

And another thing, the composer liked it slower.

[bbbbmer]

magnificent! i couldn't care less if it isn't technically perfect -- it's got so much spirit and dwarfs almost any other performance of this piece, save pincemaille at saint denis....

[AeolianSkinner1983]

Yeah I agree. I think Virgil was one of best of his time. He memorized almost everything he played. The guy was a freak of nature, however he plays everything either way to fast or way too slow. And I also hate it when he holds the pedal notes after he lets of the manual keys. That drives me crazy!

[bmhall100]

PLayed so fast its ruined the peice. It just sounds horribly rushed. How typical of virgil fox!

[TheMboucher]

TOO FAST

[pordzio]

You made a little mistake - it's from"Encores" CD, recorded in Riverside Church, NYC, not from Garden Grove

[leonboelmann]

...'droppo velòge...'e ghe gavolo..!!!

[legamature]

So fast he can't do the left hand correctly.

[mfortee]

@legamature

I realize I'm responding to a 7th month old post, but the left hand sounds fine. I love this fast tempo, By the way.

[Sesquiltera]

@legamature The speed is excellent