Michael Murray's teacher was Marcel Dupré, whose own teacher was Alexandre Guilmant, who was a friend and colleague of Franck. When it comes to organ music, these things matter. The French organ school is the greate... more »st contemporary representation of organ performance and composition. Names like Franck, Widor, Vierne, Tournemire, Dupré and Messiaen read like a "who's who" of great composers for the instrument. Franck's organ music got the ball rolling, and Murray plays these wonderful pieces on an authentic 19th-century French organ constructed by the master himself, Aristide Cavaille-Coll. Add Telarc's state-of-the-art sound to this pedigree, and the result is a first-class recommendation. --David Hurwitz« less
Michael Murray's teacher was Marcel Dupré, whose own teacher was Alexandre Guilmant, who was a friend and colleague of Franck. When it comes to organ music, these things matter. The French organ school is the greatest contemporary representation of organ performance and composition. Names like Franck, Widor, Vierne, Tournemire, Dupré and Messiaen read like a "who's who" of great composers for the instrument. Franck's organ music got the ball rolling, and Murray plays these wonderful pieces on an authentic 19th-century French organ constructed by the master himself, Aristide Cavaille-Coll. Add Telarc's state-of-the-art sound to this pedigree, and the result is a first-class recommendation. --David Hurwitz
CD Reviews
Very good, but it needs passion
Richard A. Ayers | 10/28/1998
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This should have been better. Telarc has one of the best recording teams, Michael Murray is an excellent organist, Cesar Franck is one of the best composers for the organ, and the organ at Saint Sernin is one of the best for this music. So, why am I not thrilled? I think it's a lack of passion, or je ne sais quoi. It just doesn't move me like Virgil Fox's or Fred Swann's performances."
Good Franck Offering
Peter J. Bice | McKinney, TX United States | 12/02/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Michael Murray gives a nice performance of Franck based on his instruction from Dupre. The registration schemes often come from the Dupre tradition, while other performances have just as vital connections with different registration schemes. I personally like the use of the flue choruses where others might include those wonderful but sometimes monotonous reed sounds more often. Demesseiux's fabled Franck cycle resembles Murray's in registration. One reviewer may be correct...little passion, certainly when compared to the superb Alain recording at Caen. However, listen to Dupre and one won't find passion there, either. The music is served quite nicely, anyway. I find Murray's performance engaging and accessible (I am NOT an organist.) I think the organ was miked awfully close and for my taste, Murray's more recent recording of Franck, Widor and Dupre at Ste. Sulpice, while also miked very closely, gives an inviting, clearer sound, particularly since Murray uses the mixtures to unusually nice effect for that instrument. The Franck cycles I've heard over the past 30 years each has its own merits, and Michael Murray's is an equally fine offering."
Wonderful music, great organ, performance fine
Richard A. Ayers | San Diego, CA | 05/23/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The other reviewers for this offering have found fault with Michael Murray's performance and the organ tuning. I may be tone deaf or something, but I have no complaint with either of these issues.
The Cavaille-Coll instrument at St. Sernin comes out in this recording really magnificent with great miking by Renner and his recording team. I can listen to this recording at very high levels and it is clear and well defined, as compared with the Telarc-Murray recording at St. Sulpice, which is muddy and somewhat ill-defined. I listen to these two discs frequently and enjoy them each time.
Sometimes I can not believe all of us reviewers are discussing the same performance, but this is how folks can get a viewpoint on recordings before spending their money on them."
Nectar of the Gods
Reilly Diefenbach | Washougal, WA | 10/30/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Friend, if you are reading this, you have somehow found your way to what other reviewers have damned with faint praise. Let me say that this recording is typical Telarc, which is to say slightly muddy and without any precision of imaging or definition in the deep bass. Counting the pipes a la Dorian ain't happening. Having got past that, however, you will be treated to a Franck played straight, without any of the hamming up, none of the excessive rubato, none of the editorializing. Michael Murray lets the music speak for itself.
Having listened to thousands of organs over many years, it is my opinion that the St Sernin instrument is one of the top two or three in the world. The exquisite flutes, the feathery reeds, the snarling contre bombarde like God's own chainsaw, all combining at times in the most awe inspiring sonic tsunami you're ever likely to hear. The masterful stop pulling which culminates in the sublime triumphal roar on track one will make your spirit soar and the hairs on the back of your neck rise.
There really isn't any reason to own Franck played on any other instrument than a Cavaille Coll by a conscientious craftsman like Michael Murray, so start clicking and add this pair of discs to your collection toute suite."
Great Franck CD, rocommend to everyone
Ho J. Kim | 06/07/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is perhaps one of the nicest Franck recordings in market today.
Track Listings (7) - Disc #1