Art of Virgil Fox

Virgil Fox (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 8, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B000002S63
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #37,979 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #28 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Vocal Non-Opera > Songs & Lieder > Folk Songs
  • #87 in Music > Classical > Forms & Genres > Short Forms > Character Pieces

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great program from the world's best romantic organ, January 4, 2003

By 

David Robinson (Oakland, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Art of Virgil Fox (Audio CD)

The enormous Aeolian-Skinner organ in New York's Riveside Church was built over two decades under the direction of Virgil Fox who plays on this recording. Although it's not the largest organ in the world, or even in New York, it is the definitive American Symphonic Organ. There are dozens of different divisions surrounding the church sanctuary (not just one big box at one end of the church) and there are tens of thousands of pipes. Many stops beautifully imitate orchestral instruments. The organ is renown for its extensive "celeste" stops--stops where two ranks of pipes, one slightly out of tune, play together to provide a shimmering ethereal quality.

The organ's resources are so vast that many performers have difficulty in controling the sound. They play either whisper soft or deafeningly loud. But Fox was perfectly in control, and you'll hear the full range of the organ building to exciting climaxes and then gently pulling back.

There's an interesting story about the (analog) recording process. Since the pipes were closely miked, whenever Fox changed stops, the tape would pick up an ungodly crash of the pneumatic stop mechanism. During recordings, at each change, Fox would pause for 5 or 6 beats, and the stop change would later be cut out of the tape. This led to some interesting glitches in the rhythm of the finished pieces, but those of us who've loved this program for 20 years since it first came out on LP wouldn't have it any other way.

The program is interesting, with many relaxing familiar tunes. If you own one CD of this fabulous organ, this should be the one.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Art Of Virgil Fox, May 28, 2000

By 

Everett P. Hanna "superdoc00" (U.S.A) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Art of Virgil Fox (Audio CD)

In classical circles, Virgil Fox has been the leading name for classical organ in the last several decades. He has done more to popularise classical organ than any other performer. The Art of Virgil Fox is only one example, but an excelent one. The clarity of the recording itself is unsurpassed. The organ is extremly hard to record and still have the depth of the insturment itself, as well as the artistry of the performer. It usually sounds like a big loud thing. However, between the recording technique and the artist himself, it is excelent. One gets a feeling of emence space and tends to drift with the music. Which is the most anyone can hope for. I had the privalage to meet Virgil Fox sometime before his death, and it was to date one of the most memorable times of my life. He was a great artist and human being. This recording only scratches the surface of his talent. It is definatly a must have item. After listening to this album, all preconcieved notions of "classical music" will blow out the window. I strongly recommend it.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars You need this one!, December 28, 1999

By 

the Organmeister (Columbia, SC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Art of Virgil Fox (Audio CD)

This CD is comprised of transcriptions for organ. Ole Virgy explores the vast tonal resources of the wonderful Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ in the Riverside Church. From the bombastic chords of "A Mighty Fortress" to the lush sounds of Liszt's Liebestraume No. 3, you will find yourself immersed in beautiful auditory impressions. No one knows transcriptions like Ole Virgy. This would make a nice addition to the Virgil Fox collection, but only after you have bought his Encores CD.