Charles-Marie Widor (organ) - Toccata (Symphony No. 5 - Widor) (1932)

In 1932, the 88 year old Charles-Marie Widor (1844-1937) was asked by Piero Coppola (Musical Director of the French Gramophone Company) to make some recordings of his compositions on the organ of Saint-Sulpice, Paris. Widor's response was to the effect that he no longer had any technique and was closer to the grave than the organ but, despite this, they would have a good time making the recordings.

Recording took place over a period of three nights - from 9 pm until midnight on 28 to 30 April 1932. One of the items committed to disc was the last movement - the famous Toccata - of Widor's Fifth Symphony.

I have previously heard transfers of this recording, but always felt that the transfer quality left much to be desired. Last week, I at last found a copy of the 78 rpm disc. I can now report that the essential problem is the recorded quality of the original, which is quite cramped for 1932. In any event, the record is an important historical document, so here it is.

The transfer was made from a 1940s English HMV pressing.

[musicurio]

So GLAD he did have that good time. I bet there was a twinkle in his eye as he played his most famous composition - and arguably the most famous organ piece ever written.

[ritabeckers]

Wunderschön- auch im Tempo, man kann jede Note genießen - zu viele spielen es viel zu schnell, sehen wohl eine Art Sport darin… Danke Herr Widor❣️