Post by erik on Oct 21, 2023 19:40:43 GMT -5
Belgian organist and composer Joseph Jongen's best knwon work, a massive work for his instrument and large orchestra, is in this week's Classical Works Spotlight.
Joseph Jongen: SYMPHONIE CONCERTANTE FOR ORGAN AND ORCHESTRA, OP. 81
Belgian organist and composer Joseph Jongen, who lived from 1873 to 1953, was a master at his chosen instrument. And it may be for that reason, and that reason alone, that he is known for one singular work, the 1928 Symphonie Concertante For Organ and Orchestra. Commissioned in 1926 by the Philadelphia department store owner Rodman Wannamaker for the restoration of his store’s grant 1911 organ, the work’s premiere was postponed until 1928 due to the death of the composer’s father; and when it was finally premiered, it was actually in the composer’s native country. America didn’t see the premiere of this work until 1935, when it was heard in Carnegie Hall. The work, at a length of thirty-five minutes, is set alongside similar works such as Francis Poulenc’s Concerto for Organ, Strings, and Timpani, and Saint-Saens’ famous Organ Symphony (#3); and it requires a very large orchestra, not to mention an organ soloist of extreme virtuosity. Despite its successful premiere in 1928, Jongen’s great work fell into a few decades of obscurity; its revival was thus spearheaded by virtuoso organists like Virgil Fox, Olivier Latry, Jean Guillou, and Michael Murray, and orchestras in the U.S., England, France, and Belgium getting it more ensconced in the 20th century repertoire, not only in concert halls but on recordings as well.
Organ: MICHAEL MURRAY
San Francisco Symphony Orchestra/EDO DE WAART (Telarc)
Included (for solo organ)
Cesar Franck: FANTASIE IN A MAJOR
Cesar Franck: PASTORALE
Joseph Jongen: SYMPHONIE CONCERTANTE FOR ORGAN AND ORCHESTRA, OP. 81
Belgian organist and composer Joseph Jongen, who lived from 1873 to 1953, was a master at his chosen instrument. And it may be for that reason, and that reason alone, that he is known for one singular work, the 1928 Symphonie Concertante For Organ and Orchestra. Commissioned in 1926 by the Philadelphia department store owner Rodman Wannamaker for the restoration of his store’s grant 1911 organ, the work’s premiere was postponed until 1928 due to the death of the composer’s father; and when it was finally premiered, it was actually in the composer’s native country. America didn’t see the premiere of this work until 1935, when it was heard in Carnegie Hall. The work, at a length of thirty-five minutes, is set alongside similar works such as Francis Poulenc’s Concerto for Organ, Strings, and Timpani, and Saint-Saens’ famous Organ Symphony (#3); and it requires a very large orchestra, not to mention an organ soloist of extreme virtuosity. Despite its successful premiere in 1928, Jongen’s great work fell into a few decades of obscurity; its revival was thus spearheaded by virtuoso organists like Virgil Fox, Olivier Latry, Jean Guillou, and Michael Murray, and orchestras in the U.S., England, France, and Belgium getting it more ensconced in the 20th century repertoire, not only in concert halls but on recordings as well.
Organ: MICHAEL MURRAY
San Francisco Symphony Orchestra/EDO DE WAART (Telarc)
Included (for solo organ)
Cesar Franck: FANTASIE IN A MAJOR
Cesar Franck: PASTORALE