Toccata from Suite, Op. 5 by Maurice Durufle

Here I am in live recital playing the Toccata by Durufle. I don't play in recital very often, so I was very nervous, especially playing for the first time this beast of a piece. I put countless hours of rehearsal, blood, sweat, and tears into learning this piece. I'm not satisfied with the performance as I feel I should have lived with this piece longer before playing it in public, but considering the odds were stacked against me, I think it turned out OK. Let me know what you think and if you have any pointers I would love to hear them.

NOTE: I find this piece is best listened to with ear phones, as some distortion occurs with speakers.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• pipe
• organ
• toccata
• orgue
• organo
• maurice
• durufle
• classical
• music
• symphony
• suite
• op.

[assertLime]

Does anybody knows where the church in minute 1:35 is? Very nice. Thanks a lot!

[kmdpiano25]

@assertLime That's the Riverside Church in NYC

[maso608]

It would be great to actually see you playing this, so, after you've lived with it a while, let's SEE it. With whom did you study this piece?

[kmdpiano25]

I didn't study it with anyone, I spent the better half of 2009 learning it and am now polishing it.  Should be to my satisfaction shortly.

[EugenioAmorim]

C sharp not C natural!

[td2901]

Will try and listen to this through at some point. Just hearing the beginning though, and without wishing to be pedantic, bar 1, third beat, second semiquaver is C#, not C natural. Happens each time. Good luck with this - must learn it myself some day!

[davidgray2]

You bring a fantastic rhythm, energy, articulation and flow to the piece that few do. Performmance mistakes don't matter and can be overlooked, but I'll also reiterate the comments from others that there are a few misreadings. But I'm sure by now you've seen and got to them! Great stuff-I'd like to hear you play it again now!

[MrLisztian]

Very nice... You know you have some wrong notes... mm 1 and 2... third beat, second note (both times) that's a c sharp, not c natural... there were others but that one was rather out there... good tempo which you seem to keep up with...

[SuperBabel2]

Je ne prétendrai pas que j'apprécie cette musique, ceci dit remarquablement interprété, peut-être un peu trop moderne pour moi  D.BABEL

[monoamiga]

Dude, you should be totally satisfied in my opinion!!! Interpretation is the most important thing and I like yours very much! Really it's an insane piece and it should sound insane! Your performance kicks asses.

[MegaDani141]

Were is this piece played?

there is no reverb, or less ???????

[virginiaorganbuilder]

Excellent playing! You must know Ryan Albashian.

[peteacher52]

Recordings can give a false impression of perfection, something well known. With that in mind, my only comparison of this Duruffle Toccata is on an old LP from the '70's of Noel Rawsthorne playing it at Liverpool Cathedral. The cavernous acoustics and the grandeur of the Willis organ melded very well with Rawsthorne's artistry. I am bound to say that your live, unedited performance compared very favourably. The small points of difference will be well known to you and don't need mentioning.

[davewvu1]

As someone who has been playing for 41 years, I think you've done very well with it. I don't often perform Durufle because I've always found it's too easy to get ahead of myself and get lost. But you have played very well here. Keep up the fine work!

[DesireeDeFete]

At 4:57, try to stretch those notes out and make it playful and scherzo like. At 5:00, try much slower, alla Virgil. And take the time to savor the passage from 5:12 to 5:47 stretch those chords out--add a lil' rubato when playing such a passage! What you do at 6:34-6:40 is absolutely beatiful! It makes it playful! Try that earlier on. 7:27 is perfect! From 7:41 to the end, slower, to bring out that syncapated, himeola that shows the Spanish influences of the piece, especially inthe pedal