Fantaisie Triomphale: Symphonic Organ Works

Hybrid/SACD - playable on all compact disc players.

This dramatic and inspiring music is performed on Liverpool Cathedral's great Henry Willis organ - one of the largest in the country.

Here is a unique collection of rare French symphonic organ works

The vibrant Chandos sound is maximised in this release on a hybrid surround-sound SA-CD

Following on from the tremendous popularity of the two previous volumes, this is Ian Tracey's third symphonic organ works CD for Chandos on the enormous Willis organ of Liverpool Cathedral. Ian Tracey is well established as one of the leading exponents of this music and his skills are brought out to the fore in this brilliant selection of virtuosic works by some of the greatest masters of this genre, including Saint-Saëns, Guilmant and Dupré.

The advance of the organ in its symphonic guise was largely due to the revolutionary new organ builder Aristide Cavaillé-Coll. This led to the development of a new sound for a new age, and the newly fledged concert grande orgue became a mighty extension of the orchestra in its own right. Composers were attracted to the idea of combining organ and orchestra for the sheer glorious panoply of sound, and thus organ symphonies entered the repertoire. At the end of the 19th century, and into the 20th, which encompasses the repertoire on this disc, the organ and orchestra speak as one mighty instrument or brilliantly contrast in virtuosity and effect. There is one other defining characteristic of the music presented here: its intrinsic "Frenchness", not just by definition of nationality, but also by virtue of sound.

Saint-Saëns was the most cosmopolitan of the composers featured, although all their lives were interwoven in some way. Echoes of Saint-Saëns mighty Organ Symphony can be heard in cypress e lauriers, and supplements use of a chanson-type melody with growing clamour, jagged chords and fanfare motifs. Among Gigout's 400 or so solo organ works, the Grand Choeur Dialogue is among the most popular. Dubois's Fantasie Triomphale is a testimony to the advances in organ voicing and technique. All the composers are famous for their organ compositions and Ian Tracey performs all with virtuosity and feeling.

This is a must for organ fans and symphonic enthusiasts alike