Organ at the Riverside Church

The Fox Phenomenon

A celebration and remembrance of that most charismatic and controversial of 20th century American virtuosos, Virgil Fox (1912-1980) with comments from Fox and long-time friends and associates Ted Alan Worth and Lawrence Schreiber, plus recordings made by Fox at the Riverside Church, the Filmore East Auditorium in New York City, Philharmonic Hall at Lincoln Center, and the Garden Grove Church in California. This program was produced in cooperation with Dan Cronenwett, Stephen Carlson, and public radio station KBYU-FM, Provo, Utah.

Listen to the program

Program Broadcast dates:

October 2, 2000

Links and Resources

Listen to: Virgil Fox Masterclass Comments: Fox reflects on the power of musical communication, remembering experiences he had as a teenager.
Listen to: David Lewis Reminiscence: As he relates his extraordinary experience as page-turner in Dallas during Virgil Fox's last concert appearance. (an extract from an interview with Daniel Cronenwett.)

On Sunday, October 8, an all-star roster of recitalists will present a Virgil Fox Memorial Concert at Riverside Church in New York City, commemorating the 20th anniversary of Fox's death on October 25, 1980 at the age of 68. Additional concerts at other venues are scheduled for later in the month. For more details, contact the Virgil Fox Society: P.O. Box 860179, Ridgewood, NY 11386; www.virgilfox.com

Other Related Web Sites:

Virgil Fox recordings available via the Organ Historical Society Catalog.

Music played in the program

( Key to abbreviations)

BACH: Toccata & Fugue in C, S. 564 –Virgil Fox (1976 Ruffatti/Garden Grove Community Church, Garden Grove, CA) Laserlight CD-15313 (OLF)

VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Fantasia on The Old Hundredth –Virgil Fox (1955 Aeolian-Skinner/Riverside Church, New York, NY) EMI CD-65913

DEBUSSY: Clair de lune, fr Suite Bergamasque –Virgil Fox (1955 Aeolian-Skinner/Riverside Church, New York, NY) EMI CD-66386

FRANCK: Finale, fr Grande Piece Symphonique –Virgil Fox (1960 Aeolian-Skinner/Philharmonia Hall, Lincoln Center, New York, NY) Westminster WGS-8107 (out-of-print)

BACH: Jesu, joy of man's desiring, fr Cantata No. 147 –Virgil Fox (1958 Aeolian-Skinner/Riverside Church) RCA CD-61251

BACH: Toccata in d, S. 565 (fragment); Vivace, fr Trio Sonata No. 6 in G, S. 530 –Virgil Fox (1970 Rodgers electronic/Fillmore East, New York, NY) MCA CD-9827 (OLF)

BACH (arr. Fox): Come, sweet death (2nd verse only) –Virgil Fox (Wanamaker Grand Court Organ/Lord & Taylor Store, Philadelphia) Bainbridge CD-2501 (OLF)

HEBBLE (arr): I wonder as I wonder (fragment) –Virgil Fox (1965 Möller/Church of Saint Paul the Apostle, New York, NY) Bainbridge CD-2505 (OLF)

DURUFLE: Suite, Op. 5 –Virgil Fox (1958 Aeolian-Skinner/Riverside Church) EMI CD-66386

Filler–BACH: Now thank we all our God –Virgil Fox (1955 Aeolian-Skinner/Riverside Church, New York, NY) RCA CD-7736