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New album sees Franck symphony transcribed for Grand Organ of St Paul's

13 November 2013

An orchestral symphony by one of Europe's leading late romantic composers has been transcribed especially for a new album of organ music, performed by the Organist of St Paul's.

Just released, Simon Johnson's new album features four works by César Franck, two of which have been transcribed by Simon from the original orchestral scores.

BUY SYMPHONIC ORGAN WORKS

The main work on the album, entitled Symphonic Organ Works, is Franck's Symphony in D Minor, a piece which is thought to owe much to the influence of the organ, an instrument for which Franck wrote much music.

Simon Johnson introduces his new album


Released through Hyperion, the album contains three other works, Cantabile, Pièce héroïque and Symphonic Interlude from Rédemption.

REVIEWS
'Transcribing Franck's D minor Symphony for organ works extremely well. Simon Johnson's performance on the instrument at St Paul's Cathedral is deftly paced, and the shorter pieces are also enjoyable'
BBC Music Magazine


'This new Hyperion recording of Franck's Symphony in Simon Johnson's transcription and played by him on the great organ of St Paul's Cathedral is an impressive and enlightening experience. Johnson clearly has the measure of the work … I was enthralled throughout. The Cantabile and the great Pièce héroïque are very finely performed … The detail in the recording is surprisingly good considering the venue, and the engineers have to be applauded for capturing this magnificent instrument in its more refined and gentle registration … Johnson's performance is beautifully paced throughout'
International Record Review

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