Virgil Fox in 1954

Symphonic Fox

…passionate performances by one of the world’s most celebrated organ virtuosos, the late, great Virgil Fox, with commentary by his friend and colleague Richard Torrence.

Program Broadcast dates:

• Week of August 04, 2008

Links and Resources:

• Watch Fox’s Tokyo performance of the Jongen Symphonie Concertante.
•       Movement I, Allegro
•       Movement II, Divertimento
•       Movement III, lento
•       Movement IV, Toccata
•  
• Virgil Fox Legacy
• Enjoy an extended conversation between Michael Barone and program guest Richard Torrence, talking about Virgil Fox’s recordings and performances at Philharmonic Hall, on the Wanamaker organ, and in Tokyo.
• Jongen’s Symphonie Concertante, composed in 1926, was created upon a commission from Rodman Wanamaker with intention that the work be premiered in Philadelphia on the landmark pipe organ at the family’s main department store. Unfortunately, Mr. Wanamaker died, and arrangements for that concert were dropped. However, after much delay, on September 27, 2008, Jongen’s Symphonie Concertante will at last be played by the Wanamaker Grand Court organ (with Peter Conte, soloist) and the Philadelphia Orchestra in a gala evening concert.
• Printable program listings

Music played in the program

Part I

CÉSAR FRANCK: Grande pièce symphonique –Virgil Fox (1962 Aeolian-Skinner/Philharmonic Hall, Lincoln Center, New York, NY) OrganArts CD-4135

Part II

RICHARD WAGNER: Parsifal Fanfares –Virgil Fox (1911 Wanamaker Organ/Macy’s Center City Department Store, Philadelphia, PA) Bainbridge CD-2501

J.S. BACH: Chorale-prelude, Jesu, joy of man’s desiring; Prelude No. 22 in b-flat, S. 867, from Well-tempered Clavier, Book I –Virgil Fox (1971 Ruffatti/Saint Mary’s Cathedral, San Francisco, CA) SeeMusic CD-052

Part III

JOSEPH JONGEN: Symphonie Concertante for Organ and Orchestra, Op. 81 –NHK Symphony Orchestra/Heinz Wallberg, conductor; Virgil Fox (1971 Karl Schuke/NHK Concert Hall, Tokyo, Japan) Pipedreams Archive (recorded June 1977)

Filler–GABRIEL FAURÉ: Nocturne, from Shylock –Virgil Fox, Wanamaker Grand Court organ

 

Thanks to Dan Cronenwet for facilitating access to the NHK concert recording!