Joseph Jongen - Symphony Concertante (1926) for Organ & Orchestra (1/4) Michael Murray

Joseph Jongen (1873-1953)

1. Allegro, molto moderato

His monumental Symphonie Concertante of 1926 is a tour de force, considered by many to be among the greatest works ever written for organ and orchestra. Numerous eminent organists of modern times (such as Virgil Fox, Jean Guillou, and Michael Murray) have championed and recorded it. The work was commissioned by Rodman Wanamaker for debut in the Grand Court of his palatial Philadelphia department store, Wanamaker's. Its intended use was for the re-dedication of the world's largest pipe organ there as part of a series of concerts Rodman Wanamaker funded with Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Mr. Wanamaker's death in 1928 precluded the performance of the work at that time in the venue for which it was written, but it was finally performed for the first time with the Wanamaker Organ and the Philadelphia Orchestra on September 27, 2008.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Liège
• Belgium
• Wanamaker
• Philadelphia

[mitsou50]

@david423

There also is a recording with Virgil Fox and the Paris Opera Orchestra under Georges Prêtre. Released in 1973 on the EMI/Angel label S-36984

[orvtimlaw]

organ and orchestral coloring simply gorgeous.

[ChrissysVideokids]

absolutely fantastic

[MezzoDiva]

@kevinlew41 what year would this be? Not new Davies Hall?? Sounds amazing wherever it is...LOVE the SFSO

[Dave1549]

I remember hearing this at an AGO convention in Dallas years ago on the Fisk. Memorable experience. What I like about this work is the texture. Organ and orchestra are woven together, unlike other organ and orchestra pieces in which the two simply "take turns."

[Baldgol4]

I thought this was first written for the Wanamaker organ in Phildelphia, Pa.??

[MisterDukers]

I have this record right in front of me right now. I found this randomly at a record shop. Good find.

[NOSEhow2LIV]

What a gorgeous piece. I'm not much of an organ fan, (with a few exceptions), but this is perfectly scored & balanced, the themes vital and ripe for the full development they get, and the harmonies rich, yet never cloying. This performance seems to do full justice, in any case, i'm won over!

[david423]

I wish I had the original recording with Murray and San Francisco

and Edo de Waart! Nonetheless, this is commendable.

[kevinlew41]

yup. Its the Ruffati at SF Symphony. Michael Murray playing.