1898 Henry Willis; 1971 Hill, Norman & Beard at 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 (1898 Henry Willis; 1971 Hill, Norman & Beard; 1999 Nicholson/Gloucester Cathedral, England, UK) Priory PRCD568

FRANÇOIS COUPERIN: Messe pour les Paroisses, selections. CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS: Fantasie in E-flat (1898 Henry Willis; 1971 Hill, Norman & Beard; 1999 Nicholson/Gloucester Cathedral, England, UK) Priory PRCD685

LOUIS VIERNE: Carillon de Westminster, from Pieces de Fantasie, Opus 54, number 6. GABRIEL FAURÉ (arranged by Virgil Fox): Nocturne, from Shylock. DAVID BRIGGS: Improvisation on Ein feste Burg (1932 Skinner; 1969 Schlicker/First Congregational, Los Angeles, CA) Delos DE 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 St. Mary, Saint Cloud, MN) Pipedreams Archive recorded October 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.