Recording of June 1982: Encores à la Française

682rotm250.jpgMichael Murray: Encores à la Française Works by Couperin, Dupré, Gigout, Franck, Widor, J.S. Bach, Vierne, Lemmens
Organ at Symphony Hall, Boston
Telarc Digital DG10069 (LP), 80104 (CD, released in 1990). Robert Woods, prod., Elaine Martone, assistant prod., Jack Renner, eng. TT: 65:46 (CD).

This is another winner. Michael Murray's superior performances are or should be well known to all by this time. This recording of Encores in the French style covers a wide gamut of registration and mood, ranging from the large and full-blown sonorities of Franck's Pièce Héroique, the Toccata from Widor's Organ Symphony 5, and Vierne's Final from the Symphony 1 in d to the light and nimble Scherzo of Eugene Gigout and the technically demanding Musette by Marcel Dupré.

The recording is superb, too. Telarc states in the jacket notes that they positioned the microphones at mid-pipe height, placed in such a way as to capture the "appropriate balance between the direct sound of the organ and the acoustic of the hall." They have achieved their goal. Anyone who buys this recording will not be disappointed. Very definitely a Top of the Pile listing.—Margaret Graham

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