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Virgil Fox Encores | Johann Sebastian Bach, William Boyce, ... | My favorite classical music album
 
 


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 Virgil Fox Encores  

Virgil Fox Encores
Johann Sebastian Bach, William Boyce, ...

RCA, 1993

average customer review:based on 10 reviews
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     highly recommended  highly recommended




Riverside Organ Is Stretched to Its Limits in This One - - -

If you like flamboyant, this CD will blow your skirt right up there! The dynamic range of the music in this CD will test your stereo system to the limits. Every part of the organ is used, from the shyest Kleine Erzähler to what must be a Double Bombarde.

The songs showcase the organ and are played flawlessly, even if somewhat ambitiously interpreted. If you're tired of hearing the Little Fugue in G Minor played like a funeral dirge on a worn-out calliope, then you'll appreciate what Fox does with it on the big Aeolian-Skinner. Absolutely incredible! On the other hand, I personally would have enjoyed C.M. Widor's Toccata from the 5th taken a little slower. Perhaps Virgil was running late for supper or had to go to the bathroom when performing this one, 'cause it could stand a little Largo to let the notes pop out. Nevertheless, it shows what "Nimble-Fingers" can do.

Technically, the CD is flawless, except for some low-level noise heard during the quieter interludes when the volume is up. Ideally, there should be no noise here at all but what do you want for coming from 40-year-old tape masters??? That one flaw is vastly overshadowed by the excellent stereo separation and extreme dynamic range, with absolutely no rumble or flutter to be heard.

The CD includes a couple of the better-known pieces, and the lesser-known ones are equally interesting. Can't go wrong with this CD, but don't expect to get much out of it in your car CD player due to the wide dynamic range and the inherent noise in the car (unless of course you're driving a Mercedes)!!


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My favorite classical music album

I first listened to this entire set of music on cassette in 1983 and prior to that I heard parts of it on a CBC radio program called "Gilmour's Albums" in 1979. It remains my most favorite classical music album. The range of sounds coming from the organ and the interpretation of each piece is wonderful. Having this music still available after nearly 50 years, and on CD no less, is a tribute to Fox and his outstanding talent.


Masterpieces by the Master

Virgil Fox made organ music live...the nuances of his playing created mental images running the gamut from the gentle hush of dawn (Boyce, Ye Sweet Retreat) to thunder and lightning (Mulet, Thou Art the Rock) to perhaps the greatest virtuoso piece for the instrument, the Toccata from Widor's Symphony No. 5. No better introduction to the King of Instruments exists! The man was inspired -- may his music live forever!


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Good as an introduction to the organ (and Virgil Fox)

I hate to beat a dead horse (with 7 reviews) and to slightly contradict some of the previous opinions, but I can't agree that this CD is one of Fox's greatest. It serves as a fine introduction to those who want to hear the rich tonal palette of an organ and indeed, few are finer than Fox in the jaunty Schumann "Canon" and the oh-so-sweet "Ye Sweet Retreat." However, repeated listenings show the Little Fugue and Handel to be a bit sloppy, and the overall nature of the CD somewhat one-dimensional, with the faster pieces very fast and ending very loud, the slower pieces very slow and ending very softly.

This is not to denegrate Fox, who especially for an organist, had an unbelievable control and understanding of dynamic shading - it's more that the program itself suffers from a lack of variety. Perhaps this CD, being an RCA release, served an important purpose in getting organ music, and more importantly classical music in general, to the broader public.

But for more serious artistry, turn to recordings like Digital Fox (1978) and these unjustly underpublised re-releases of Fox playing major organs:
1) Virgil Fox at Hammond Castle -- available at organarts.com with samples and background info. Contains incredible, I mean incredible, interpretations of Franck's Grande Piece Symphonique and Reubke's Sonata on the 94th Psalm, to name only a few
2) Virgil Fox Command Performances 1963-1965 -- available on Amazon and organarts.com. Fox plays the organs of Philharmonic Hall at Lincoln Center (with an extremely intense reading of Bach's Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor), Boston Symphony Hall, and the Riverside Church. GET THESE ASAP - THEY ARE SUPERB!


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Excellent Music choice.

Virgil Fox is without a doubt one of the most advanced organists in the new phase of Organs. As an Organist myself, there are many new changes with Organbuilding and how older Organists try to adjust and try to get used to. From the Sound of the Organ it is indeed a rather powerful Organ with what sounds like a Possible 32ft Reed!!! I do not know where this recording was held at, but You need to listen to some of the Samples that there is. There are a wide variety of moods with this organ all the way up to a very scary but demanding Full Organ! Buying this cd is a MUST. If not then at least listen to the samples. You will not consider it a waste of time.


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reviews: page 1, 2



Tracks
Fugue In G Minor 'Little' | Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring | Concerto No. 4 In F: I. Allegro | Ye Sweet Retreat | Thou Art The Rock | Trumpet Voluntary | Trio Sonata No.6 In G | Concerto No. 10 For Strings: Aria | Now Thank We All Our God | Canon In B Minor | Suite No. 3 In D: Air On The G String | No. 5 In F Minor, Op. 42, No. 1: Toccata



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