Ch. M. Widor plays his Toccata from V Symphony Op. 42 No. 1

Here the legendary organist plays his most-famous work, Toccata from 5th Symphony. When the recording took place, he had been already 88 years old. He many times mentioned, that Toccata was wrongly popularised, as a plain showpiece, without feeling, but with ridiculously fast tempos. Of course, here the age is a main argument, but... let's the composer speak through his music!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Widor
• Symphonie
• Symphony
• Orgue
• Orgel
• Organ
• Cavaille-Coll

[try2bgr8]

G-D's gift of music. Personally, I feel since he composed the magnificent piece, he was entitled to perform it at any tempo he damn well pleased!!! Bravo!

[churchwhistles]

Actually, this is probably the best tempo for St. Sulpice. On a modern American organ it needs to go faster, especially in a place with dead acoustics! It would be horribly boring otherwise, played in certain churches where I've played. There is not one absolute tempo for a piece. You have to consider time and place.

[Treboreno]

I first heard Widor's Toccata on the televised version of Princess Anne's wedding to Mark Phillips. I can't remember how long ago that was but it introduced my to a life time of organ music. In all this time I've not heard Widor's own recording before. Now I understand the comments that say there is such a difference when played slower. It's as if there is a different piece within it. It's true what they say, You learn something every day.

[eindedarten1]

Dit stuk muziek is mischien wel het mooiste wat ik ooit gehoord heb, als dit in de hemel gespeeld wordt, zou ik daar toch wel willen komen

[bckm54]

GORGEOUS!!!!

[Peronter77]

great widor love it

[binky4647]

@TheWoodad well said

[orson15]

@rkolabhai I agree completely. There is a certain grandeur and perfection of pace that I've never heard from anyone else.

[KennnnnnyTucky]

Fascinating to hear this version. The slower tempo brings a whole new dynamic to the piece, somehow allowing you to savour the notes and the crafting of music unlike other versions eg Liverpool Cathedral where it's played so fast it almost feels like the notes are thrown away (although I appreciate acoustics may mean the faster tempo sounds better in situ).

[jpaslawski93]

I do not know what to say to describe my feelings.. Words like marvelous, outstanding become pale when I'm trying describe this masterpiece. Things like tempo, registration, his mistakes in this case- when 88 years old (!!!) Widor is performing his own toccata on the place where it was written are absolutely meaningless for me. I don't need anything else, I could die right now.

[srndcn]

Indeed the composer was a brilliant maestro who through this work makes our hearts sing with joy.