(1999 Nicholson/Gloucester Cathedral, England, UK)

1932 Skinner; 1969 Schlicker organs at First Congregational Church, Los Angeles, CA

1982 Marrin organ at the Cathedral of Saint Mary, Saint Cloud, MN

Virtuoso On the Road

A visit with British organist David Briggs, heard in performances recorded in England, California, and Minnesota.

Listen to the program

Program Broadcast dates:

• Week of October 31, 2005

Links and Resources:

• David Briggs on his first improvisation lesson with Jean Langlais

• Printable program listings

Music played in the program

J. S. BACH: Prelude in E-flat, S. 552 (1999 Nicholson/Gloucester Cathedral, England, UK) Priory CD-568 (Priory Records)

FRANCOIS COUPERIN: Messe pour les Paroisses (selections). CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS: Fantasie in E-flat (1999 Nicholson/Gloucester Cathedral, England, UK) Priory CD-685

LOUIS VIERNE: Carillon de Westminster, from Pieces de Fantasie, Op. 54, no. 6. GABRIEL FAURÉ (arr. Fox): Nocturne, from Shylock. DAVID BRIGGS: Improvisation on Ein feste Burg (1932 Skinner; 1969 Schlicker organs/First Congregational Church, Los Angeles, CA) Delos CD-3241

DAVID BRIGGS: Improvisation Symphony in Five Movements (on Joplin’s Maple Leaf Rag, Bach’s Air on the G String, Gershwin’s Summertime, and the traditional tunes Londonderry Air and When the saints go marching in) (1982 Marrin/Cathedral of Saint Mary, Saint Cloud, MN) MPR Archive (recorded 10/2/2000)

Composer, conductor, improvisor, touring recitalist and organist emeritus of England’s Gloucester Cathedral, David Briggs is at present a resident of New York.