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Organ CDs with really deep bass

I'd like to request and share information with other classical-music audiophiles who are interested in classical pipe organ CDs that are exceptionally well recorded and have really deep bass. I have a couple of recommendations for now, and I'd be interested in hearing recommendations from any of you who are into classical pipe organ CDs that permit your state-of-the-art subwoofer to strut its stuff. (Please, no arguments/diatribes here about analog vs. digital, LP vs. CD. Plenty of room for that elsewhere.)

1. Jean Guillou, organist; Mussorgsky, Pictures at an Exhibition, Stravinsky, 3 Dances from Petrouchka; Dorian CD DOR-90117. D. B. Keele, who used to write speaker and subwoofer reviews for Audio, used this as one of his references for testing subwoofers and called it "one of my favorite bass demos." It has potent levels of really deep bass. As organ buffs know, most medium-to-large pipe organs have at least one (and sometimes more) 32-foot pipe (usually but not always a pedal pipe); this pipe has a fundamental of 16 Hz. This is one of the few recordings I know of that contains this note. An amazing, reference-quality recording. If you'd like to get evicted and are looking for a lease-breaker, this CD played on a good system with a first-class sub should do the trick. (All of the Dorian CDs I have tried of Guillou playing European organs of his design (three of them) have reference-quality sound and seemingly unlimited bottom-end response.)

2. Michael Murray, organist; The Ruffati Organ in Davies Symphony Hall: A Recital of Works by Bach, Messiaen, Dupre, Widor & Franck; Telarc CD CD-80097. Although not as colorful as the Guillou/Dorian CD above, this excellent CD also has prodigious deep bass that will give your sub plenty to do. To my ears, Telarc does a better job of recording Michael Murray (one of the best organists of our day) playing pipe organs than it does of recording orchestras. There are a number of superb Telarc CDs of Murray playing various interesting organs. This is not my favorite overall, but it is outstanding for deep bass.

Now let's hear from you guys. I'm all ears. Thanks.
texasdave
texasdave OP
144 posts
 
Here are a couple more recommendable organ CDs with fine music, fine performances, excellent sound and really deep bass that will keep your subwoofer occupied:

Michael Murray, organ; Encores a la francaise and Poulenc Organ Concerto (with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Robert Shaw, cond.); Telarc CD-80104. This features the organ at Symphony Hall, Boston, in the encores, and the Aeolian-Skinner organ in the Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta, in the Poulenc.

Michael Murray, organ; Jongen Symphonie Concertante (with San Francisco Symphony, Edo De Waart, cond.) and Franck, Fantaisie and Pastorale; Telarc CD-80096. This features the Ruffati organ in Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, about which the CD notes claim: "said to be the largest concert hall organ in the world." As Rcprince notes in one of his posts above, there is also a fine Dorian CD with Jean Guillou playing the organ in Meyerson Center, Dallas (with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra under Mata) that is an excellent version of the Jongen, very well recorded and with deep bass.
cpdunn99's avatar
cpdunn99
639 posts
 
And thank YOU, Texasdave! I'll be on the lookout for those you recommend.
av2k
17 posts
 
I recently joined Audiogon and spotted this thread. Check out Stephen Tharp at the Skinner organ in Girard College (Ethereal ER-108). The 32' Pedal Diapason is very effective. I had the opportunity one day, during the OHS convention in Philadelphia, to help Ed Kelly (Mobile Masters) record several organs. He can certainly find the sweet spot for recording a pipe organ. The resonance of the building is extremely important. The building is to a pipe organ as a soundboard is to a piano.

If you're still interested, I have about 500 organ CD's and can make some further recommendations on CDs with both good sound and deep bass (no electronic 32's). By the way, the Wanamaker Organ has a resultant 64' that is created by sounding the 32' fundamental and adding a fifth at 21 1/3' pitch for a resulting 64' tone at 8 Hz. Same deal with many other 64' flue stops, e.g. Liverpool Cathedral. They go by the names Resultant, Acoustic Bass, Gravissima, or in combination.

I believe the Atlantic City Convention Hall organ has a full length 64' flue stop. The Hill organ in Sydney Town Hall has a 64' reed in the Pedal. David Drury plays the Liszt "Ad Nos" on this organ (ABC 438 881-2) and at the ending, it sounds like a helicopter hovering over the music! It's impressive.
cpdunn99's avatar
cpdunn99
639 posts
 
Av2k: great post! Welcome to this nuthouse!!
aceto
273 posts
 
Telarc (who else) has a new album of the titanic Kunstfaust organ made from now discarded missle hulls at Peenemunde. You are required to sign a release at time of purchase. It is the only earthly sound detected by the Mars Rover. Just watch out for cerebral hemmoraging.
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