The Organ Loft - Easter Echoes

The Organ Loft - May 9, 2010
Easter Echoes
Webcast and Broadcast Schedule


This week on The Organ Loft, we're featuring "Easter Echoes" – music based on themes of the Easter season. One piece of major interest is the Improvisation by Charles Tournemire on the chant Victimae Paschali. (Tournemire was a student of Cesar Franck, and his successor at St Clotilde in Paris). This improvisation, and several others were recorded on 78RPM records in the 1930’s. In the 1950’s, Tournemire’s student Maurice Durufle transcribed and published them as sheet music. The recording is of J. Melvin Butler at St Mark’s Cathedral.


Program: Easter Echoes

1. Randall Thompson: Alleluia
2. Richard Purvis: Partita on „Christ ist Erstanden”
3. John Ireland: “Greater love hath no man”
4. Charles Tournemire: Choral-Improvisation on “Victimae Paschali”
5. Leo Sowerby: Prelude on “Land of Rest”
6. Healey Willan: “Rise up, my love, my fair one”

Recordings Used:

1. “The Light of Stars” Choral Arts, Richard Sparks, dir; Gothic G-49226
2. “The Artistry of Frederick Swann”, Frederick Swann, organ; Gothic G-49271
3. “Greater Love” East Carolina University Chamber Singers, Dan Bara, dir; Gothic G-49256
4. “French on the Flentrop” J. Melvin Butler, organ; Loft LRCD-1013
5. “Land of Rest”, Robert Parris, organ; Loft LRCD-1080
6. “Easter” Choir of All Saints‟ Episcopal Church, Beverly Hills, Thomas Foster, dir; Gothic G-49097

Listen Online:

KING-FM Seattle's Classical Choice — Sundays at 10:00 PM

OREGON: KWAX-FM and the University of Oregon radio network — Sundays at 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM