Search - MacDowell, Bach, Bingham, Debussy, Handel, Lemare, Swinnen Elgar, Thomas Murray :: The Longwood Gardens Organ Volume 1

A Great Recording of a Great Organ

John P. | Kennett Square, PA USA | 05/27/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The organ on this recording is generally believed to be the largest "residence organ" in the world, with over ten thousand pipes. It was purchased by Pierre du Pont (1870-1954) in 1929 for his grand estate in southeastern Pennsylvania. That estate, known as Longwood Gardens, is now open to the public, and the organ remains in situ in the music room attached to Longwood's dramatic conservatories. (The organ is currently undergoing a thorough restoration, which is scheduled to be completed in 2008.)



Performing on this disc is Thomas Murray, probably the greatest living concert organist. His light touch, and the pieces he has chosen, do a terrific job of displaying this organ's capabilities. The program includes two movements from "Longwood Sketches," a piece written for this organ by Firmin Swinnen (1885-1972). Swinnen, a native of Belgium, gained renown as a concert and movie organist before being hired in the mid-1920s by Pierre du Pont to perform regularly at Longwood. The "Sketches" are whimsical, romantic pieces that show off the organist's virtuosity and the instrument's many colors.



This is an excellent recording, highly recommended for fans of the concert organ and its repertoire."