An organ recital in progress: part 100

Dear SMM Community,
 

The 100th part of my online organ recital is here, and I hope that you enjoy it. It is hard to believe that I have now recorded 100 pieces for your enjoyment, but here is one of my favourite works for the instrument in celebration. I offer up these musical meditations as part of our parish efforts to find ways to keep you connected at this time. Recorded on my house organ, the instrument is a musical facsimile of the great 'Father' Willis organ at Salisbury Cathedral.

Today, I present César Franck's Pièce héroïque.

César-Auguste-Jean-Guillaume-Hubert Franck (1822-1890) can be credited with bringing a level of sophistication to the composition of organ music not previously encountered in 19th century France. He worked closely with the organ builder Aristide Cavaillé-Coll to ensure that his music would perfectly showcase the new genre of instrument–the ‘orchestral’ pipe organ.

Franck's Pièce héroïque has become especially popular, having been championed by concert organists such as Virgil Fox. Strangely enough, it is reported that Franck only ever performed the piece once, at the opening of the organ in the Palais de Trocadéro–perhaps it didn’t receive the enthusiastic reception it deserved.



With best wishes,
Andrew Adair
Director of Music