Michael Murray: The Ruffatti Organ in Davies Symphony Hall

Johann Sebastian Bach (Composer), Franz Joseph Haydn (Composer), Marcel Dupre (Composer), Charles-Marie Widor (Composer), Cesar Franck (Composer), Olivier Messiaen (Composer), Michael Murray (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Michael Murray
• Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach, Franz Joseph Haydn, Marcel Dupre, Charles-Marie Widor, Cesar Franck, et al.
• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Telarc
• ASIN: B000003CTB
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #166,509 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Music is Served, May 23, 2003

By 

John Prothero "jakethejeep" (Garden Grove, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Michael Murray: The Ruffatti Organ in Davies Symphony Hall (Audio CD)

I grew up in the 70's listening to Virgil Fox and thinking he was the "most". In the 80's it was Carlo Curly. As my music tastes changed and refined, I realized that they were the "Liberace's" of the organ: style over substance. Now I truly appreciate the playing of Michael Murray, and I feel that this CD truly showcases his gift. It is a wonderful eclectic mix of Bach and some of the 20th Century organ masters. What is so wonderful about this CD is that in spite of a large instrument at his disposal (which Fox or Curley would utilize to it's fullest) Murray selects registration for the Bach that allows the music to shine through, yet allows the contemporary Ruffatti voicing to enhance the Bach vision of God. It is the perfect balance between the garishnous of Fox and the conservative playing of E. Power Biggs. The Bach is played with great articulation and expressiveness, serving the music well. Then the fire starts with Messian's "Du Parmi Nou". It continues with Dupre (Murray's teacher), some gentle Widor, and finishes with a brilliant interpretation Cesar Frank's "Final in Bb". The Telarc engineers truly picked up the dynamics of the Davies Symphony Hall installation (this recording was made before the wonderful acoustical renovation in the early '90's). This is an excellent CD to own for the instrument, the music and the performance.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A True Speaker Blower, July 27, 2003

By 

E. Pearson (Salt Lake City, UT USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Michael Murray: The Ruffatti Organ in Davies Symphony Hall (Audio CD)

This CD is perhaps the most listened to in my whole organ collection. From the most quiet and serene pieces to the abrasive, this CD has it all and Michael Murray masterfully knows how to exploit every little nuance. The shining jewel on this CD would have to be Dupre's Op. 7, No. 3. I don't know how one person can play this piece, but Murray manages in a way only a master organist can. His stop usage on the Ruffatti brings out the amazing range of this instrument as well as its tonal characteristics that make it one of the great organs of the western U.S.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Audiophile delight, February 26, 2005

By 

Ron Hart "Ron" (San Francisco) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Michael Murray: The Ruffatti Organ in Davies Symphony Hall (Audio CD)

This is a CD that will tell you the truth about your sound system. Track 11, Widor's Adagio, Symphony No. 6. is a truly difficult piece to reproduce even for a top notch system. Abysmal, melodious bass well isolated against crystal clear highs. It will tell you every resonance in your listening room. Don't have an equalizer? You may want one after listening to this.