Widor's Symphonie Gothique - I - Moderato

Full Symphony - http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=C0CAF81A73702EBD

Charles-Marie Widor's Ninth Organ Symphony, 'Gothique.' The first of Widor's two final symphonies in a newer, much more instrospective format that focused more on cyclical themes. Performed by Frederic Ledroit on the 1845 Cavaille-Coll Grande Orgue l'eglise de La Madeleine.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Widor
• Charles
• Marie
• Toccata
• Gothic
• Gothique
• Symphony
• organ
• La
• Madeleine
• pipe

[aalon1981]

This is Gothic symphony dedicated to St-Ouen de Roun's organ. Why instead of brining us picture of this beautiful Gothic church you put photoes of ugly Baroque churches?

[willowthebored]

@aalon1981

Because, dear friend, this recording was made on the rather beautiful Cavaille-Coll at your aforementioned ugly Baroque church, namely the Eglise de la Madeleine, which I think you'll find is architecturally and artistically a fine success. Why not, instead of criticizing my pictures, offer comment on Mr. Ledroit's performance or the qualities of the instrument? I think that might be a more appropriate use of bandwidth.

[AnOrganCornucopia]

@willowthebored - to be fair to the chap, while of course it is relevant to this recording, La Madeleine is an architectural abomination. There is only one true Christian architecture and that is Gothic, as expressed so perfectly by St Ouen. La Madeleine is just a Pagan shoe-box which was, I understand, to have been a railway station, but was already half-built when it was decided it would be a church instead...

[geschiedschrijver]

Ahhh...... the beautiful, magnificent Madeleine !!!

[advisorC101]

Widor stuffs Berlioz in the 32 contre bombarde in his Cavaille-Coll and shows him the truth!

But yes I see your point, would you like me to send you a link of where to download the the book for free?

[willowthebored]

This should be one of those virtual fight-offs you see on TV sometimes. Widor vs. Berlioz. French Composer Impact. We can take bets on who'll throw out their back first, or who gives the first Baton Eye Jab.

Seriously, though, I can see how their musical styles would conflict. Widor seems a lot more conservative (as subjective as that may be in a Romantic context).

[advisorC101]

Berlioz

[willowthebored]

That I have not. I haven't read any of Widor's literary works, I've got my nose buried in Audsley's The Organ of the 20th Century right now. One wonders who he'd go after :D

[advisorC101]

I was trying to perfect it at his tempo today. :p

Not an easy job, have you read his book "Techniques of the modern orchestra"?

He casts some rather amusing insults at a influential and important French figure.