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Virgil Fox - Command Performances

Album Rating:

(13)

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Label
OrganArts B0004135-02

Year
1965

By: Brian on Feb, 08 2012

Horrible. Mind-numbingly glitzy and tasteless "bang-em-out" playing.

By: terrydeal on Feb, 17 2012

Too shrill and harsh. Uncharacterisic of Virgil Fox.

By: stlorganist on Apr, 07 2016

A master regardless of the rantings of other posters. This man did more for the art than anyone else of his time. I will agree though by todays standards the instrument leaves much to be desired,but for its time it was state of the art.

By: MusicDonor2014 on Nov, 01 2016

A carrot is always the state of the art . . . timeless. Not so with a box of tubes or whatever this toaster had inside of it.

By: Tromba on Feb, 09 2017

Keep in mind the recording equipment quality and sophistication available when they recorded this. I'm sure the instrument sounded good in person.

By: TrichterRegal on Apr, 06 2017

According to the LP, there is NOT "a box of tubes" nor a "toaster" involved! However, there are four PIPE organs listed. All Aeolian-Skinners!

By: rgd39274 on Apr, 10 2018

MusicDonor2014 obviously doesn't know what he is talking about. No "toaster" on this album. All those negative critics about Virgil's playing should do as much for organs and playing organ music as Virgil did.

Organist

Virgil Fox

Biography

Composer	Title	MP3	Sheet music	Duration	Organ	Rating Log in to rate	Comments	Click to Request
JS Bach	Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor (BWV 582)			14:04	Lincoln Center For the Performing Arts New York City, New York, USA - map Aeolian-Skinner 1960 IV/98 Organ Information	track Rating: 4.5 (11)	1	Request
By: Brian on Mar, 21 2012 Virgil Fox tries for "serious", gets "camp".
Olivier Messiaen	Dieu Parmi Nous from La Nativite du Seigneur			6:36	''	track Rating: 2.5 (6)	1	Request
By: Subharmonic on Feb, 09 2017 What a surprising good record.
César Franck	Grande Pièce Symphonique			23:35	''	track Rating: 3.5 (11)	5	Request
By: enchamade on Aug, 26 2013 In listening to the entire piece,there are moments of sublime beauty.Unfortunately,the mood is rudely ended when the "bang-em-out" playing resumes. By: gemshorn on Nov, 10 2014 I fully agree, though I'm inclined to think that the "bang-em-out" is rather due to the dry acoustic and/or somewhat harsh reeds of the organ and not to the playing. By: cavalorg on Mar, 31 2015 Where there is some embarrassment, there is no pleasure! Brave Virgil, we forgive him; peace in his soul! By: Miandra on Jun, 14 2020 I also agree. This doesn't meet the aesthetic and philosophy of Franck By: TrichterRegal on Nov, 22 2021 Get a life haters! Can you do better???
Eugène Gigout	Toccata			2:33	Symphony Hall Boston, Massachusetts, USA - map Aeolian-Skinner/Foley-Baker 1950 IV/80 Organ Information	track Rating: 3.5 (11)	1	Request
By: Tromba on Apr, 04 2016 You know, with Virgil Fox, if fast is good, faster is better...
JS Bach	Prelude and Fugue in D (BWV 532)			9:38	Riverside Church New York City, New York, USA - map Aeolian-Skinner 1964 V/204 Organ Information	track Rating: 3.5 (15)	2	Request
By: Jaqbiec on Jun, 15 2012 Such a "WonderWorks" of this guy should be banned from this player! Waste of time... By: MusicDonor2014 on Nov, 01 2016 There is nothing wrong with THIS PLAYER (Organ Live), or did you mean BACH should banned from FOX? There are two ways to read your confusing sentence. We are very fortunate to have ORGAN LIVE. That's MY opinion and I'm sticking with it.
''	Fantasy and Fugue in C minor (BWV 537)			9:47	''	track Rating: 4.5 (8)	+	Request

''	All Men Are Mortal (BWV 643)			3:47	''	track Rating: 4 (6)	1	Request
By: TrichterRegal on Apr, 06 2017 Beautiful and touching because it appropriately reflects the text of the chorale much better than over versions that play it too fast and too loud!
''	Toccata In F (BWV 540)			6:18	''	track Rating: 3 (13)	5	Request
By: Jaqbiec on Jan, 31 2012 ... but what for? By: bill steward on Feb, 05 2012 because he can, and it works. By: Brian on Feb, 08 2012 Well, let's just play it as fast as we possibly can, shall we? Then we can all get home early without bothering ourselves by appreciating Bach's genius. This is horrible. A travesty. By: Jaqbiec on Jul, 04 2012 no, it sucks! By: accessguy on Jan, 03 2019 Virgil has given us some great interpretations. This is not one of them.
''	Trio Sonata VI in G (BWV 530)			10:51	''	track Rating: 4.5 (7)	2	Request
By: cavalorg on Jan, 21 2016 How is it possible to have so much talent and so not much taste? By: jfk1961 on Sep, 12 2016 Oh gosh... leave poor Virgil along. He brought organ music to that masses, be it capes, light shows, and organ shoes that light up! However, he made organ music fun and accessible to the general public!
WA Mozart	Fantasy in F minor (K 608)			12:24	Symphony Hall Boston, Massachusetts, USA - map Aeolian-Skinner/Foley-Baker 1950 IV/80 Organ Information	track Rating: 4.5 (10)	1	Request
By: enchamade on Jan, 27 2012 Wow,Virgil really comes alive at the end of this!
César Franck	Final in B-flat			8:52	''	track Rating: 3 (4)	+	Request

Felix Mendelssohn	Sonata no. 1 in F minor - I. Allegro moderato e serioso			4:39	''	track Rating: 4 (9)	2	Request
By: Piccolo on Aug, 14 2016 A little bit too fast: It's 'Allegro MODERATO SERIOSO'. With this speed from Fox the 'Serioso-Character' is gone ... By: Miandra on Apr, 28 2019 ... to Piccolo: I totally agree
''	Sonata no. 1 in F minor - II. Adagio			4:30	''	track Rating: 4.5 (5)	+	Currently Unavailable

''	Sonata no. 1 in F minor - III. Andante recitando and IV. Allegro assai vivace			6:09	''	track Rating: 3.5 (6)	+	Currently Unavailable

JS Bach	Prelude and Fugue in E minor (BWV 548)			13:32	''	track Rating: 4 (7)	1	Request
By: MusicDonor2014 on Aug, 26 2015 Nothing about the chooser, or the Artist; this piece by Bach has always reminded me of a trip to hell, wedge or no wedge. It seems to have no redeeming qualities to it at all. Sorry, Johann!
''	Rejoice Beloved Christians (BWV 734)			1:46	''	track Rating: 5 (5)	1	Request
By: Brian on Feb, 15 2012 All the appeal of a cheap door chime.
Max Reger	How Brightly Shines the Morning Star			14:33	''	track Rating: 4.5 (7)	+	Request