AWESOME ORGAN: Thomas Murray – MUSIC OF ELGAR, GADE & FRANCK – Sheffield S-23

$

50

AWESOME:
Thomas Murray –
ORGAN MUSIC OF ELGAR, GADE, & FRANCK –
Sheffield Town Hall S-23 -
RARE & ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!



There are but few organ records of note.  Make no mistake, this is one.

In fact, it is one of only 6 or 7 vinyl recordings Thomas Murray has ever graced us with, deciding instead to take a chair at Yale.

Of note, too, is that this is one of the very first recording efforts of Lincoln Mayorga, who not only dabbled in trying to record an acoustic (rather than a player or instrument) but succeeded mightily, this example among his absolute sonic best.  It was made in the early seventies, when Murray was playing the finer, older organs in this country, in particular this E. & G. G. Hook Organ at Immaculate Conception Church, Boston.

Now for the audio nitty-gritty:

For those unfamiliar with this brand of Sheffield recording, please be aware that few microphones were used and much time was spent trying to capture the acoustic…just as it would be heard by a listener in attendance.  Does it succeed?  Oh mercy, yes.  But therein let me share, that the recording demands that you turn up the volume higher and higher, until you are very much aware that you are right within the church itself.  Make no mistake, it does not fail at this.  In fact, I dare say, it is one of the best recordings of its kind in this way and among few that achieve such a result.

Note that the playing is as virtuosic as I have witnessed on any instrument, and that the readings are of Cesar Franck's PRELUDE, FUGUE AND VARIATION, Niels Vilhelm Gade THREE TONE PIECES, and Sir Edward Elgar SONATA IN G.

A beautiful edition, in every way a record can be: Jacket without fault; record inside is near mint.

Final Note: The American Guild of Organists calls this Murray series "the finest organ records of all time."

Come hear why.

For other fine records, TAS picks and hard-to-finds, please see my complete list of offerings here on eBay.  Note, too, US Postal Rates for International shipping have recently increased.

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