Joseph Jongen - Symphonie Concertante, Op. 81 (1926)

Marie-Alphonse-Nicolas-Joseph Jongen (14 December 1873 – 12 July 1953) was a Belgian organist, composer, and music educator.

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Symphonie Concertante, Op. 81 (1926)
Dedication: A mon Frère Léon

1. Allegro, molto moderato (in modo dorian) (0:00)
2. Divertimento (8:11)
3. Molto Lento (16:32)
4. Toccata (Moto perpetuo) (27:41)

Michael Murray, organ and the San Francisco Symphony conducted by Edo de Waart

His monumental Symphonie Concertante of 1926 is a tour de force, considered by many to be among the greatest works ever written for organ and orchestra. Numerous eminent organists of modern times (such as Virgil Fox, Alexander Frey, Jean Guillou, Michael Murray and Olivier Latry) have championed and recorded it. The work was commissioned by Rodman Wanamaker for debut in the Grand Court of his palatial Philadelphia department store, Wanamaker's. Its intended use was for the re-dedication of the world's largest pipe organ there, the Wanamaker Organ, as part of a series of concerts Rodman Wanamaker funded with Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Wanamaker's death in 1928 precluded the performance of the work at that time in the venue for which it was written, but it was finally performed for the first time with the Wanamaker Organ and the Philadelphia Orchestra on 27 September 2008.

[DustyOldCowTown]

I love this piece, it means a lot to me.

[stephenyusko]

By far the most striking and original work for organ and orchestra; especially since the organ part is practically a concerto. I have the Cranz organ part for this which unfortunately does not have the complete reduction when the organ is not playing.
If folks like this there is Charles Widor's 3rd Organ symphony for ORGAN AND ORCHESTRA (op. 69)... Another astonishing piece of music practically unknown. There is a great recording of this using the Liverpool Cathedral organ with Ian Tracey on organ. (Chandos; it used to be on YT but has been removed)
The Widor has a gorgeous anthem that runs through the piece appearing here and there in fascinating guises. The slow movement is devoted entirely to it. At the end it sounds like WW2 just ended...an unbelievable polyphony of the treat anthem at its absolute grandest. The final plagal cadence, inthis context

[heyguysinternet]

I find the sequence starting around 23:20 incredible, especially the subtle, surprising progression at 23:30. Just an amazing grasp of harmonic quality, color, depth. I was lucky to catch a very good performance of this piece early last year at Boston Symphony Hall -- especially memorable, as the piece was new to me.

[neillog]

Oreilles grandes ouvertes, l'esprit surplombant la médiocrité du Monde, sans rien dire je me laisse porter par ce grand flot vers un monde que je reconnais bien. Bouche bée.
J'ai ce sentiment aussi à l'écoute de Charles Tournemire, mais c'est encore un voyage sur un autre tapis.

[daveluttinen]

When I was young (in the 1960s), our church organist played the Toccata as a Recessional. I had no idea what it was - but I requested she play it - much to her annoyance. She played it very well, mind you. (She passed away in 2022.) Segue a number of years and I heard it played on a theater organ and asked the performer about it. Then I found the orchestral recordings and then had to have the music. That was when the nickel dropped as to what she had been playing and I had been so smitten. A remarkable piece of music in its entirety. The music sits on my home pipe organ (III/29). I'll never master it, but much of it I can play and it is a glorious way to spend time on the bench.

[DustyOldCowTown]

15:58 to the end of the movement is just absolutely sublime. Where other composers would stop, Jongen says I’ll give you some more at 16:13

[Troubleshooter]

This recording has been part of my collection, both on vinyl and CD, for longer than I care to think. While I love the entire work, to me, the third movement is the real magic.

[stephenjackson]

Spectacular pedal gliss in the penultmate bar of the Toccata, not in the score but on all YouTube recordings.

[daveflanagan]

Magnificent Music. Especially the Toccata.

[leoinsf]

This a magnificent orchestral composition with a virtuosic organ part.
It is not an organ concerto: it is an organ symphony!
Magnificent cohesion between instruments and organ in an accessible style which should knock an audience's socks off!
Why in the hell is it so neglected? Poor Jongen, to have written such a perfect composition and it be neglected?

[mlowry]

I’ve owned this recording since I bought the Telarc CD way back when.We learned about the piece because the Hi-Fi shop where we bought our new amplifier was using this recording to show off their equipment. Such incredible music. I didn’t know until recently that the second movement is almost entirely in 7/4 time. Remarkable.

Once while on a long bus trip, I listened to the Symphonie Concertante on my CD player using a good pair of Sony headphones. After the dramatic first two movements, I enjoyed the lovely third movement so much that as the last notes faded into nothingness, I drifted off to sleep. Needless to say, the toccata woke me up again. I will remember that moment every time I listen to this pice of music. :)

[ShorkGamer]

So amazing! Many Thanks for this find!

[scottw]

One of my favorite pieces of music. Thanks for posting this with the score so we can follow along!

[gapont]

Quelle musique géniale. Un bonheur de trouvailles sonores.

[senafan]

THANK you for posting this! I've never been able to get my hands on an orchestra score before!

[DustyOldCowTown]

Maybe it’s just me but I notice a lot of influences from fellow Belgian composer also from Liege, Cesar Franck, his theory of frequent modulation evident in the toccata.

[MrClaudeholmes]

Definitely this recorded performance with MR. Murray & the SFS on the TELARC CD is my favorite. I was quite fortunate to attend this performance in Philadelphia's famous Wanamaker Department Store - Now aka MACY's. The Wanamaker building's acoustic's is excellent with the Wanamaker Organ for this composed piece & was performed quite well too, and was also recorded live - for a historical anniversary celebration . But I still prefer this piece on the TELARC CD which give my music system a good work, from the softest range - to the floor rumble of the finale - every time *

[stephenyusko]

Continuing from immediately below:
The final plagal cadence, in this context, is mind blowing.

[Smin-fh]

gives me impressionistic vibes! This music should be more known!

[davidrehak]

Joseph Jongen:Symphonie Concertante Op.81
1.Allegro, molto moderato (in modo dorian) 00:05
2.Divertimento 08:11
3.Molto lento 16:32
4.Toccata:Moto perpetuo) 27:41
Michael Murray-orgona
San Franciscói Szimfonikus Zenekar
Vezényel:Edo de Waart