Search - David N. [Composer] Johnson, Edwin Henry Lemare, Dudley Buck :: Organ Fireworks, Vol. 4

Another Success

Avid Reader | Franklin, Tn | 02/11/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Continuing my organ reviews...this is number four of a long series by Christopher Herrick entitled ORGAN FIREWORKS (I think we are up to ten albums now). The series is notable for several reasons - the numerous offerings (famous and unknown), the breadth of organs played and the superb musicianship heard. Mr. Herricks is a performer of distinction, having recorded Bach's entire oeuvre in fourteen successive days!! He is equally at home in the Germanic and Gallic traditions though he seems to favor the former.



The French works would be vastly improved if heard on one of the fabulous Cavaille-Coll organs. In my opinion, the one at Rouen is the greatest instrument of its kind in the world for breadth of tonal range. How I would love to hear the Toccata di Concerto on one the famous organs! The Guilmant offered here is pithy, not worthy of the group. Louis Vierne's free-style composition had the right touch of virtuosity of both playing and registration demanded by many of his works.



My one complaint is that many of the tracks presented here are too abbreviated. They only whet the appetitite in what is seems is an appeal to the modern inability to concentrate longer than a few minutes without change. I would have preferred a better grouping of the FIREWORKS but they seems to have evolved just as the music for organs did."

The best organ CD since "The Digital Fox".

Alberto Pedretti | Milan, ITALY | 01/19/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Herrick at his best! The Aeolian-Skinner organ at St.Bartholomew's is the greatest and the finest instrument of NYC. The sound is astonishing! No doubt this is my favourite CD of this wonderful series together with "Organ Fireworks II" recorded at Royal Albert Hall, London. Buy it!"