Search - Vierne, Michael Murray :: Vierne: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3

Really HEAR Vierne's Music

Peter J. Bice | McKinney, TX United States | 01/08/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Even though I am neither organist nor musician, I delight in actually hearing the notes of any given work. Michael Murray's offering of two Vierne symphonies allows one to be totally wrapped in the sound of a what surely must be Cavaille-Coll's most sumpuous organ. Slow Tempi? Yes, some might think the tempi are slow for the first and last movements of these symphonies, and I am not sure if these interpretations might be as tempting on another organ in a less-favorable acoustic. But these interpretations work exceedingly well on this recording. Telarc's state-of the -art recording of this instrument plus Mr. Murray's ability to make the inner voices stand out allow the listener to hear the fine structure of each movement. All the voices in French Romantic organ music work together to create the drama and life of the music. I, for one, do not subscribe to the idea that "impressions" of the inner voices create such. I want to hear all of the notes clearly. This superb recording allows that. I find this recording a real musical adventure."