Widor's 6th Symphony
which opens with a
Stunning Allegro
Charles Marie Widor was a French organist and composer who lived in the late 19th / early 20th Century. In 1870, the master organ builder Aristide Cavaillé-Coll petitioned for Widor to be appointed as the organist at St Sulpice in Paris for which Cavaillé-Coll had just built an organ of exceptional quality. You can hear the Allegro played on the great St Sulpice Cavaillé-Coll organ by Daniel Roth by following that link to the video module lower down this page.
Photo of the Cavaillé-Coll organ in Abbatiale Saint-Ouen, Rouen by from Wikimedia Commons under a GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2
Widor Organ Symphony No 6 - Allegro
First Movement
If the Widor 5th is known for the tocatta, then then the highlight 6th Widor Organ Symphony is the Allegro.
Sixième Symphonie. Allegro
Amazon Price: $0.99 (as of 02/14/2012)
Here's a downloadable MP3 by the master organist Olivier Latry which you can preview if you click through. It's a good way to hear a different version for comparison - and if you like if you can buy it. (If you prefer a CD of the whole Symphony, I've provided an Amazon link lower down the page.)
As I mentioned before, the Widor Allegro is the acknowldged highlight of Symphony 6, and one of Widor's most famous organ compositions. It's surprising how different it can sound depending on the organ and the organist. I've put together a compilation of some very different performances for you to compare, including my personal favourite the Olivier Latry version of the Allegro.
Some people believe that the inspiration for Elton John's Funeral for a Friend was the opening and closing passages of Widor's Allegro. Take a listen and see if you agree. I've picked a live version of Funeral for a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding from Maddison Square Gardens in 2000 - I love Elton live. There are a few version of this performance on YouTube but this seems to have the cleanest audio.
Widor Organ Symphony No 6 - Adagio
Second Movement
Widor Organ Symphony No 6 - Intermezzo
Third Movement
Cavaille-Coll organ in Abbatiale Saint-Ouen, Rouen
Widor Organ Symphony No 6 - Cantabile
Fourth Movement
Widor Organ Symphony No 6 - Finale
Fifth / Final Movement
Widor 6 - Yours to Own
Charles-Marie Widor: 5e & 6e Symphonies pour Orgue aux Grandes Orgues de Notre-Dame de Paris
Amazon Price: $9.90 (as of 02/14/2012)
Olivier Latry is such a great organist that his recording is the one I recommend buying on CD, combined here with Widor Organ Symphony No 5 in F Minor which includes the famous Toccata.
Widor Symphony 6 Sheet Music
Symphony VI in G Minor, Op. 42 (Sheet) (Kalmus Edition)
Amazon Price: $11.10 (as of 02/14/2012)
Used Price: $184.75
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Guestbook
Your Thought on Widor Symphony 6
I hope you like my lens but, whatever your opinions, I would like to hear your thoughts so please leave a message below. There's no need to be a member of Squidoo but no HTML is allowed.
I'd also really appreciate it if you would please go back to the top of my page and rate this lens. Just click home on the right. Thank you,
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Heather426
Nov 4, 2009 @ 5:48 pm | delete
- Lovely lens!
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kiwisoutback
Nov 4, 2009 @ 8:27 am | delete
- The organs themselves are pieces of art. I don't listen to organ music other than when I (have to) go to church, but it's incorporated into a lot of rock songs now and again (The Doors come to mind). Nice work!
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