VIRGIL FOX Toccata from Fifth Symphony (Widor)

Toccata from fifth symphony (Widor). "Heavy Organ" (as defined by Virgil Fox) -
The reasons why Virgil Fox
turned the organ music inside out in the USA.

How does this add up? The organ music
on this compact disk is ahead of its time by
years,yet it is a recording which may well
be called historical. A name explains the
seemingly incompatible difference: Virgil Fox.

Fox was born in 1912 and died on
October 25, 1980, after having suffered
from cancer for many years. In his time
Fox belonged to the pioneers and innovators
among the classical musicians in the
USA. It was not only in his interpretations
of organ literature, explored throughout
centuries of performing pratice, that Fox
liked to do new things, for he also was very
open-minded in all respects of technical
development. Virgil Fox turned the organ
music inside out in the USA.

This did not always bring him praise and
recognition. He violated many a rule of
the music world and so it happened that
he sometimes had too oppose the prejudice
that he was, above all, a man of the show
business who for the sake of brilliant
effects would falsify sublime cultural
possessions.

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[legamature]

So fast he can't do the left hand correctly.

[silverstartrucker]

I am a huge fan of Virgil Fox and his music, especially when played on the Wanamaker organ. However, this rather too fast and in my humble opinion the best version on Youtube is the live version by Frederick Hohman.

[Peronter77]

thumbs up if u love virgil fox

[nosecone5921]

It's great hearing amazing music like this at speed, and stuff the non-constructive criticism. Music is meant to be fun, and lots of fun is to be had when things get fast and loud. Awesome!

[mountainsong100]

@laname323 Thank heavens someone recognizes the non musical Carpenter. All fluff, and sparkles, like an octapus over the organ console, but where's the musical line ? When all the hype wears off what will be left is just a memory.

[Musique3579]

Way too fast. The notes get all thrown away when played at this tempo.

[obyce15]

Widorova Toccata má byť odohraná v pomalšom tempe,aby bolo rozoznať každú jednu notu

[lppatmore]

This is the playing of a man who sniffed too much glue as a child. There's no question that Fox had amazing technical ability, but this, even with these dry acoustics, is too fast to let the organ "speak."

[AeolianSkinner1983]

@bige002000 This recording was made at Riverside Church in 1958 he wasn't that old!! This recording is actually pretty good. It was when he got older and still tried playing like he was in his 30's was when his playing sounded like mush! In his prime back in the 1940-60's yes there were no organist in America t who could match him. I'm sure in Europe there were plenty who could though!

[ernestmskinner]

I agree that it is played too fast but I think it was just another attempt by Virgil to show off his skill. I also agree that the Frederick Hohman version on this site is the best and gives a rare listen to the magnum opus Schantz organ. As usual when I listen to a Virgil Fox recording, I focus on his playing of the pedal organ. So deft and deliberate is Virgil's playing of the pedal, it is almost like he has a third hand instead of the dangling appendages that many organists have.

[ericoschmitt]

@steeeeevve my first language is portuguese. i see you like "perfect" things. music, written english.... so KILL YOURSELF because you are not perfect. seriously

[laname323]

one reason he played so fast was to give the same musical expression that the works would have in large european churches. in usa the acoustics and organs are not built for long resonanating washes of sound; in europe the churches are built for that. he recreated the orgiinal musical sense of european music by playing it fast. his technique is incomparable (barring the non-musical carpenter)