Over a period of some three decades I have been trying to collect recordings of romantic works for organ and orchestra. My attempts so far have produced a mere 50-odd works, of which I give a extract below. I would be delighted if members could help me by adding or correcting.
My norms are that the organ part should be fairly prominent, e.g. it would exclude works like those by Liszt or Respighi, where the organ is just added for effect in the finale, and that the orchestra should at least include strings. Also, obviously, choral works like requiems or masses would be excluded. I do include works that originally may have been composed for other instruments but were then re-orchestrated for organ and orchestra.
Of course, as the discussion below shows, there are many compositions that have been composed but of which recordings do not exist. My list excludes those works of which I could not locate any recordings.
I only collected a handful of modern composers, and of course they fall outside our remit, but included in my original list are Dupré, Langlais, Lovelock and Marģeris Zariņš.
My three favourites are: The organ concerto by Poulenc (which I regard as the most beautiful piece of music I have ever heard), the concerto by Zariņš (Concerto Innocente for Organ and Orchestra) and Respighi's Suite for Organ and Strings.
Here is my very short list (some sung composers included):
Ebenezer Prout (1835 - 1909) Concerto No. 1 Op. 5 (1870)
Guillaume Lekeu (1870 - 1894) Épithalame pour orgue et orchestre (1891)
Hendrik Andriessen (1892 – 1981) Concerto for Organ and Orchestra (1950)
Léon Boëllmann (1862 – 1897) Fantaisie Dialoguée for Organ and Orchestra Op. 35 (1896)
Max Bruch (1838 – 1920) Suite for Organ and Orchestra Op.88 (1915) – Based on his PC
Marco Enrico Bossi (1861 – 1925):
• Fantasia Simfonica per Organo e Orchestra Op 147 (1923)
• Concerto for Organ and Orchestra Op. 100 (1900)
• Concert Piece for Organ and Orchestra Op. 130 (1908)
François-Joseph Fetis (1784 – 1871) Fantaisie Symphonique for Organ and Orchestra (1866)
Eugène Gigout (1844 - 1925) Grand Chœur Dialogué (1881)
Charles Gounod (1818 – 1893) – Some of Gounod's works for pedal-piano have been arranged for organ and orchestra:
• Fantaisie sur L'Hymn National Russe (1885)
• Concerto for Pedal-Piano and Orchestra (1889)
• Suite Concertante (1885)
Félix-Alexandre Guilmant (1837 – 1911) – As far as I know most of these were not originally composed for both organ and orchestra:
• Adoracion
• Allegro for Organ and Orchestra Op.81
• Cantilene Pastorale Op. 15 (1864)
• Elegiac Marche
• Fantastic Marche
• L'Organiste pratique, Livre 2: Deuxième marche funebre Op. 41 (1874)
• Finale alla Schumann sur un Noël Op.83 (1893)
• Marche Fantaisie sur des Chants d'Eglise Op.44
• Meditation sur le Stabat Mater Op.63 (1886)
• Organ Symphony Op. 42
Heinrich Schulz-Beuthen (1838 - 1915) Reformationshymnus: Symphony No. 5 for large orchestra and organ.
(This new discovery (for me) is a Sterling recording by our own Adriano with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra!)
Edward Elgar (1857 - 1934) Sursum Corda Op. 11 (1894)
Joseph Jongen (1873 – 1953):
• Alleluia for Organ and Orchestra Op. 112 (1940)
• Hymn for Organ and Orchestra Op. 78 (1924)
• Symphony Concertante for Organ and Orchestra (1926)
Horatio Parker (1863 – 1919) Concerto for Organ and Orchestra Op. 55 (1902)
Francis Poulenc (1899 – 1963) Concerto for Organ, Timpani and Strings (1938)
Ture Rangström (1884 – 1947) Symphony No. 4 for Organ and Orchestra
Ottorino Respighi (1879 – 1936) Suite for Organ and Strings (1914)
Josef Rheinberger (1839 – 1901):
• Organ Concerto No. 1 Op. 137 (1884)
• Organ Concerto No. 2 Op. 117 (1894)
(Rheinberger also composed some works for solo violin and organ. I wish someone would re-orchestrate them for full orchestra and organ.)
Camille Saint-Saëns (1835 – 1921):
• Symphony No. 3 Op. 78 (1886)
• Cyprès et Lauriers Op. 156 (1919) (Part 1 - Cyprès - is organ only)
Charles Villiers Stanford (1852 – 1924) Concert Piece for Organ and Orchestra Op. 181 (1921)
Charles-Marie Widor (1844 – 1937)
• Overture Portugaise (1865)
• Allegro Vivace Op. 42 No. 5 (1882)
• Scherzo La Chasse (1868?)
• Symphony No. 3 for Organ and Orchestra Op.69 (1894)
• Symphony for Organ and Orchestra Op.42 (1882)
Hans Fährmann (1860 - 1940): Simfonisches Konzert Op. 52 (1905) (Organ rather inaudible in the recording I found)
Richard Strauss (1864 – 1949):
• Feierlicher Einzug der Ritter des Johanniter-Ordens Op. 103 (1909)
• Festival Prelude (1913)
Josef Suder (1892 - 1980) Symphonische Musik No. 1 (1941)
Jaromír Weinberger (1896-1967): Passacaglia für Orgel und großes Orchester (1932)
I would be happy to send my complete list (which includes modern composers) privately to anybody who is interested.
IMSLP comes up with more works, in this list also including pieces from earlier periods:
https://imslp.org/wiki/Category:For_organ,_orchestra
wonderful list..since I am also into organ and orchestra works, may I highlight a piece that I did not find either in mr.Griesel's list ( maybe it's in the "complete" list which is alluded to?) nor in the list kindly provided by hadrianus?
it's the Symphony n.4 by Johann von Herbeck (1831-1877), who conducted Schubert's 8 premiere performance.
I would say it's more of a symphony "with organ" in Saint-Saens' vein, rather than "for organ and orchestra" like Widor's.
Kind of a more austere (but not dour) Romantic piece. (von Herbeck was also a Bruckner advocate, and I think it shows)
it's available on a hybrid SACD (Hamburger Symphoniker, Martin Haselbock) that I enjoy very much.
Couldn't recall the composer's name yesterday, otherwise I'd have replied sooner. Came to me this morning, so just to let yo know (in case you don't already) that there is quite a nice organ concerto (Op. 5, 1870) by Ebenezer PROUT (1835 - 1909).
cheers
Richard
For those interested, that IMSLP search only turns up works tagged as for organ and full orchestra; you need another link for works for organ and strings. You can further refine such searches for composers and/or works composed approximately in the Romantic period, always assuming they were so described properly when uploaded (so goes, though.)
I very much enjoyed looking through this list. I first came across a work for organ and orchestra in my teens, it was Saint-Saens symphony No.3 and was being played in a record store. I went home and 'borrowed' the money to buy the record. With reference to the ISMLP list, there is rather a lot of Handel! Nuff said. I hope members will be able to double the length of the list.
Thanks to all who have replied so far, and for the kind remarks. I have corrected an error and added one more work. Next step is to check the suggestions you have made.
Moskovski Suite No2 for Orchestra has an organ part indicated from the start
https://ks.imslp.net/files/imglnks/usimg/4/41/IMSLP214850-SIBLEY1802.18360.86c6-39087009320286score.pdf
Links like that change- for a relatively more permanent link try https://imslp.org/wiki/Suite_d'Orchestre_No.2, Op.47 (Moszkowski, Moritz) (https://imslp.org/wiki/Suite_d'Orchestre_No.2%2C_Op.47_(Moszkowski%2C_Moritz)).
Works that have not been mentioned yet in the thread or in the IMSLP list:
Barber - Toccata festiva
Janacek - Taras Bulba (not a soloistic role for the organ but present in some movements)
Allow me to add Joseph Foerster's Fourth Symphony in C minor from 1905 and Sergey Bortkiewicz's Third Piano Concerto (also in C minor) from 1927, both of which have an organ part in the final movement.
Edward Scheve's (1865-1924) Piano Concerto also features an organ part in its finale, though going by your rule of
QuoteMy norms are that the organ part should be fairly prominent, e.g. it would exclude works like those by Liszt or Respighi, where the organ is just added for effect in the finale
it probably wouldn't count. Wanted to mention it in case anyone thought to ask as the piece was discussed on this forum some time ago.
The finnish composer Armas Maasalo (1885-1960) appears to have composed a few organ concertante works – they would probably make good company in your list– but I have to find out more precise info first... his choral works and songs are well known in Finland but it's hard to find information or scores of his other repertoire.
Your responses have prompted me to do some new searches and I have managed to add another eight works to my collection (I added them to the list above). Especially useful was a search on Presto Classical. This also made me aware of a surprisingly large number of modern compositions in this genre, which I don't collect. Reverie mentioned the Moskowski Suite No. 2, which is interesting, but I did not manage to find any recording.
Dubois's Fantaisie Triomphale may be addictive at times. Such an uplifting and sunny work!
I came across this book [Orchester-literatur-katalog : Verzeichnis von seit 1850 erschienenen Orchester-werken] by the German musicologist Wilhelm Altmann... there happens to be a section about works for Organ and orchestra published between 1850-1919. There are a few pieces not mentioned in your opening post which might prove interesting to look further into.
Luckily this book has been digitized. See pages 196-97: https://archive.org/details/orchesterliterat00altm/page/196/mode/2up (https://archive.org/details/orchesterliterat00altm/page/196/mode/2up)
Thanks. Some of those works I've only otherwise encountered because someone uploaded them to IMSLP (the Degner, eg.)
You list Strauss' Feierlicher Einzug, TrV 224 (Op.103???) of 1909. This is for "12 Trumpets in E♭, 3 Solo Trumpets in E♭, 4 Horns in E♭, 4 Trombones, 2 Tubas, Timpani", no organ in sight and also no strings as you ask. I don't think it belongs on your list... (it's had many arrangements, some of which may involve organ.)
Yes: this arrangement specifies organ:
https://en.schott-music.com/shop/feierlicher-einzug-noq49603.html (https://en.schott-music.com/shop/feierlicher-einzug-noq49603.html)
may I be picky and suggest Strauss/Reger not Strauss be used as it is an arrangement?... Still strings are not involved despite his request (winds- blechblaser in fact (brass iirc), timpani & organ)
Well, to be accurate it would be Strauss/Reger, as arranged by Johannes H. E. Koch:
https://www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/Koch-Johannes.htm (https://www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/Koch-Johannes.htm)
Anyway, let's move on...
Much earlier in the thread, it was stated that Liszt wasn't going to be included however there are a few arrangements of his works for organ and orchestra, as recorded on this CPO disc: www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8035948--franz-liszt-organ-arrangements - would these count?
I'd add Liszt's acquaintance(iirc) Friedrich Lux, whose Op.80 is a choral symphony published in the late 1890s "Durch Nacht zum Licht for organ, strings, 3 trumpets and timpani (1896) (in an edition?...) for organ, strings, 3 trumpets and timpani.)" (a couple of libraries, including Pancras, have this.)
Recently published were two works for orchestra with organ by Gerhard von Keußler:
Symphony in D minor
Praeludium solemne
https://www.laurentius-musikverlag.de/musik-des-20-21-jahrhunderts/gerhard-von-keu%C3%9Fler/
The Symphony (ca. 30 minutes), composed in 1925, consists of six parts, resembling the traditional four movements, and played without a break (Introduction-Allegro-Andante-Scherzo-Finale-Epilogue). The organ is used not very often in this work. At different moments the orchestra pauses, and the organ makes a call into the silence. It functions like a extraterritorial instrument.
The Prelude (ca. 15 minutes) is a fantasy over the gregorian easter sequence "Victimae paschali laudes", which develops motifs from this melody in a densely worked contrapuntal style. Keußler wrote it during his term as Music Director of Melbourne cathedral in 1934 as a festival piece for the National Eucharistic Congress of Australia in 1934. The organ has an important role as a fully integrated part of the orchestra, but is not used like a concerting solo instrument.
Both pieces look very interesting in the scores. They were not published in the composer's lifetime and are still awaiting their first modern performance and recording.
QuoteI don't think you mention a splendid Symphony in G minor (1936-37) by Percy Whitlock (1903-1946). It is written in a highly romantic style with prominent organ:
I must thank joelingaard for making me aware of this work by Whitlock. It is indeed composed in romantic style. I have confused this composer with the similarly named
William Lovelock (1899 - 1986), who also wrote an organ-orchestra work
Concert Symphony for Organ and Orchestra, which is a modernistic work.
The recording of Whitlock's Symphony on YouTube, unfortunately, is not of good quality sound, and it would be tremendous if the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra could re-issue this recording. I was unable to listen to the alternative Jackson recording on the internet, but apparently it is not so good as the BBC one, according to one YouTube commentator.
A few more for the list:
Claudius H Couldery 1835-1919 Andante Religioso for organ, harp and orchestra
Benjamin Dale 1885-1943 Fantasia (concertstuck) for organ and orchestra 1904
Harriett Claiborne Dixon 1879-1928 'Four love Complaints' for organ and orchestra
Alfred Hale 1875-1960 Elegy in C sharp minor Op.13 for organ, strings and drums Pub. by Lengnick
Basil Harwood 1859-1949 Concerto for organ and orchestra in D major Op.24 Pub. by Novello
Alfred King 1837- ? Coronation March for organ and orchestra Pub. by Ashdown
Armas Maasalo 1859-1949 Organ concerto in D major Op24
Tiomi Penttinen 1885-1960 Suite for organ and orchestra
Ebenezer Prout 1835-1909 Concerto No.1 for organ and orchestra Op.5.(mantioned above) and Concerto No.2 in E flat major for organ and orchestra Op.35
Reginald Steggell 1867-1938 Concertstuck for organ and orchestra Pub. by Breitkopf
Herbert Weatherly 1877-? Sarsum Corda for organ, strings and drum Op.1
Also for organ only ?
John Charles Ward 1835-1919 'Nautical Symphony' in 4 movements
Quote from: Gerhard Griesel on Saturday 16 May 2020, 17:26
QuoteI don't think you mention a splendid Symphony in G minor (1936-37) by Percy Whitlock (1903-1946). It is written in a highly romantic style with prominent organ:
I must thank joelingaard for making me aware of this work by Whitlock. It is indeed composed in romantic style. I have confused this composer with the similarly named William Lovelock (1899 - 1986), who also wrote an organ-orchestra work Concert Symphony for Organ and Orchestra, which is a modernistic work.
Might I beg to offer an alternative opinion of William Lovelock's Sinfonia Concertante? It has long been a favourite of mine - I think it is highly late-Romantic in nature. Anyone curious can listen to the only available recording here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi2TVWMBWVU&list=RDbi2TVWMBWVU). I certainly think it is a neglected masterpiece. Though in manuscript, I have permission from his descendants to create a performing edition.
cheers,
Daniel