Cochereau plays Widor Toccata (1959 Version)

Pierre Cochereau plays the Toccata from Widor's 5th Symphony at Notre-Dame, Paris in 1959. This recording predates the more famous Philips version.

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Music

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• cochereau
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• marie
• widor
• toccata
• organ
• symphony
• fa
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• notre
• dame
• paris
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[mrstevebournias]

Cochereau knew what he was doing in 1959 with this divine tempo where all of the inner beauty of Widor is to be found; also the organ was likely unaltered from the days of Vierne's modifications so it sounds wonderful; no screaming upperwork anywhere to be found....

[iloveejh]

Genius

[beano1eye]

@rpugh20009 : Methinks that Widor played his own composition the way he wished to play it ; that is the correct tempo. Look at the notes - the 'arabesques' - in the right hand (they are also played by the left). The last two notes are tied. If one speeds through the composition, how can one correctly phrase these notes ?

[rpugh20009]

I totally agree with you, this is the tempo it should be played. Diane Bish tears through this as if she had to go to the bathroom. So many people speculate that Widor played his Toccata too slow because he was an old man, 89, with arthritis, poor hearing and eyesight, etc. Might it have been that he wrote it in this tempo? In Widor's time, it is said the Toccata was played last at recitals. It was the ubiquitious piece with which they brought the house down.

[vdanker]

There's a reason the composer used this tempo; you can better hear the nuances this way.

[Gaeta001]

questa è una delle migliori interpretazioni mai ascoltate di questa Toccata. In questa esecuzione -rispetto alle successive più veloci e più "da corsa"- Cochereau dimostra una profonda attenzione per ogni singola nota e una simbiosi notevole col pezzo!

[kyotokid4]

...too many play this piece way too fast today and ignore the grandeur this work has.

I once played it at this tempo for a wedding processional in a church which had a beautiful delay. So grand and stately.

[MrQuebec]

@ClickThisToSubscribe

Widor himself played it slower.

[cross147]

@ClickThisToSubscribe this is just Widor's original tempo...you have to look at it: /watch?v=J8vz1D_L_OE

[binky4647]

@IamAlessandro1 agreed the bigger the granduer and echo effect slower is better.

The place to be is at the back , its amazing.