My Favorite Songs to Play and Listen to
Posted on Sep 23, 2020 by William Canady
We have talked so very much about the organ; let me talk about the sounds we derive from the organ. I love organ music. I am that person that can enjoy listening to organ music for hours on end. Over the years, I have learned that organ music requires a hearty appreciation.
This week, I want to share with you some of my favorite organ pieces; you are encouraged to Google them and listen:
- First, Ralph Vaughan Williams' “Rhosymedre” — a beautiful piece that features a relaxed pace of melodic tones
- Secondly, Johann Sebastian Bach “No.1 Prelude and Fugue in C Major, BWV 553” — a standard repertoire piece; I can play this piece, but very slowly.
- Thirdly, “Cortège et Litanie, Op. 19, No. 2” by Marcel Dupré
These pieces are not organ pieces, but if you love classical music, I think you would enjoy them:
- Bach's “B-flat Minor Prelude” on the harpsichord is wonderful!
- Samuel Barber's “Second Essay for Orchestra, Op. 17”
- Ralph Vaughan Williams' “The Lark Ascending”
- Ralph Vaughan Williams' “Prelude, 49th Parallel”
- Evard Greig's “Ich Liebe Dich, Op.1”
- Samuel Barber's “Knoxville: Summer of 1915” (performed Dawn Upshaw)
- Lastly, Maurice Duruflé's “Requiem, Op. 9 I-VIII” (This is one of the greatest requiems I have ever heard!)
Be Blessed!
William Canady, Salem Organist
Salem’s organist has written a series of articles about the organ for Staff Trax this year. This is part 7 of 7.