(MP3)Marcel Dupré: Prelude and Fugue in G Minor recorded by Virgil Fox in 1958 at Riverside Church in New York City. The first half is a haunting, slow melody mostly played on the string sounds, accompanied by a frantic progression on the flutes. The second half (the fugue) is best described as the musical equivalent of a fireworks grand finale that just keeps coming at you. A very difficult piece very well played here.
At left is a famous photo of Marcel Dupre at the Wanamaker Organ in Philadelphia in 1932. Dupre was one of Virgil Fox's teachers. The MP3 and the photo are from the
Virgil Fox Legacy website. Permission for using direct-links pending.
2 Comments:
To properly listen to Virgil Fox, one should put seat backs into an upright position and tray tables up while fastening seatbelts snugly.
And if your heart can take it.
Wow. What a ride.
This is one of those showcase pieces of music -- the talent of the performer, the power and delicacy of an instrument, and the genius of a composer who had enough talent to improvise this whole piece on the fly.
Thanks to this web page, I must have the recording for my collection.
Yowzers! I didn't realize Dupre improvised this!
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