Widor's Symphonie Gothique - III - Allegro

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

[GJmusique]

The organ as it is now, is way over the top. Way too many mixtures and reeds. Not only the Tuba Magna is out of place, what about the choir of Clarinettes (16', 8', 4') on the Récit? Pointless!

It fits to the atonal-war-declaration-style of improvising (Latry, Guillou) though. How much I would love to see the organ restored in true CC vein (including the Positif de Dos) - I think it's highly unlikely... as much as it is unlikely for the original console of St Clothilde to return... sad things.

[tjugofyra]

The original console was never electrified!

There have been two different consoles after Viernes!

[willowthebored]

Also, why the hell is there a Tuba Magna on the Grand Choer? D:

[advisorC101]

I agree, the day that instrument lost its console that said "Aristide Cavaille-Coll & Co." it really lost its title as one.

Like stripping a young man of his hands and face... I hope one of their organists read our comments.

[willowthebored]

I misread. I'd been under the impression that the action was electrified under Vierne, but the console is obviously not that old, which would mean that they electrified the old console. Wiki just said I'm wrong; the original console was never electrified. That said, they SHOULD electrify it and reinstall it, because the new one annoys me. Or they could conduct a proper restoration, rip out the Cocherau chamades, strip most of the added pipework, and reinstall the old console with barker action.

[advisorC101]

Or revoice them. It was all Cochereau, my teacher really hates what he did to that organ.

What? How was the old Cavaille-Coll console electrified?

I heard that they are trying to restore the old console when I watched a video by bombarde.

[willowthebored]

I KNOW! I hate that! The original console was already electrified, why on earth would they throw it out? I mean, for god's sake, it's a work of art unto itself and I'm willing to bet with that number of drawknobs it's a lot more convenient with the hemispherical steppes than the Anglo-American cliff-faces (Audsley seems to agree). They should start a restoration by throwing out those cocherau Chamades, too...And mounting the new ones inside the case.

[advisorC101]

The first time I heard that organ was in Olivier Latry's recording of the Widor Symphonie no. 5 toccata, I could hear something..... resembling a Cavaille-Coll but when those en chamades came in I just said no way... these ones are waaaay better. :-p

Its a real shame, what possessed them to remove the console that Vierne died on!?

[willowthebored]

I agree. It's been electrified and they've added some ranks, but they managed to keep the balance and enhance the tone instead of Cocherauizing it. I disagree with the electrification of the action (in 1971? Wut de Eff? A little late in the season), but it's still wonderful.

[argentor16]

c'est génial, Frédéric Ledroit est un génie,un compositeur extraordinaire, et un interprète magnifique de force, de fougue, de talent, de jeunesse..moi je dis:bravo à ce dépoussiereur audacieux et merveilleux!