Search - Widor, Oosten :: Organ Symphony 1 & 2

This history of organ music is rather easy to summarize. There was Bach, then virtually nothing until the late 19th century in France, when the superb "symphonic" organs of Cavaille-Coll inspired a whole host of composers, beginning with Franck, and continuing with Widor, Vierne, Guillmant, Tournemire, Dupré, and Messiaen. Widor invented what has become known as the "organ symphony," a suite or collection of pieces assembled in such a way as to exploit the full potential of the new French instruments. This first volume of the complete organ works of Widor contains the first two organ symphonies, and they are marvelous pieces. If you are a newcomer to the world of organ music, then this is the best possible place to start. --David Hurwitz