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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

Showing 11 responses by ken_andrew

ken_andrew
22 posts
 
Texasdave recommends 11-23-04 Peter Hurford who has several CDs on Argo/Decca.
Peter Hurford, Romantic Organ Music Vol II (is superior to Vol I). The more common Vol I, is still good.
Peter Hurford, Hindemith Organ Sonatas, Argo 417 159-2 is excellent and worth seeking out.

Like most readers and posters here, I happen to enjoy Guillou, Murray, and Hurford. I have to buy them on web without auditioning first. I even doubt if their sonic benefits can be heard on the systems available in most CD stores. Please can someone who owns all their CDs, rank them in a purchase order for each artist.
ken_andrew
22 posts
 
Organist David Drury has 3 CDs on ABC Classics label. "Music for a Grand Organ" and "Pomp&Circumstance" feature the Sydney Town Hall organ and have occaisonal infra bass. "On a Grand Scale" uses the Melbourne Town Hall organ and frequently reproduces the lower bass pipes (not ultimately as deep as Sydney) and sustained bass is very common. All 3 Cds are worthwhile. Not as exciting as Guillou or Felix but better than Hurford.
ken_andrew
22 posts
 
Joyce Jones - Cadet Chapel Organ West Point. Tk 8 will get your attention.
ken_andrew
22 posts
 
Chicago Concert, organist Kalevi Kiviniemi, Motette CD 12361.  Try tracks 1(lengthy bass),6 (deeper bass) and 12(hum ? until 1 min). You have to increase volume but the deep bass is audible.  IMO -On other tracks, treble sometimes marred by excessive reverberation.
ken_andrew
22 posts
 
The complete organ works, Edward Cuthbert Bairstow, organist Jackson, York Minster organ  Mirabilis, MRCD 902. Tracks 1 and 7 step down the pedal notes eventually resulting in several seconds of profound bass.  Do not increase the volume after 1 min on track 1 or your speakers will be damaged just after 3 min.  As the booklet warns, Bairstow liked the quiet bits, quiet and the loud bits, loud.
ken_andrew
22 posts
 
SACDs generally sound better because of the greater effort required to record them.  Actual bass output depends on the material played:
(1)  Ian Tracey- Grand Pieces Symphoniques on Chandos is subtle (listen to the bass fluttering on tk 2), and with generally restrained bass
(2) Ian Tracey - Fantaisie Triomphale on Chandos is rich in bass tones and often bombastic - same organ as above
(3) Jean-Paul Imbert - Cesar Franck on Base2. Tracks 1 & 2, will delight bass freaks, however the overall pace is a little slow.
ken_andrew
22 posts
 
SACD is 5.1 surround sound from 6 channels (like DVD) . You need 2 microphones for CD, 6 microphones for SACD. The extra channels are not multi tracks, but separate sources.  The FL and FR channels on CD and SACD should sound the same, but SACD also has the FC, RL, RR and sub as well. 
ken_andrew
22 posts
 

2 SACD from base2music that are affordable and contain serious organ music which is recorded with impeccable quality;

1. Jean-Paul Imbert - Passacaglia. An hour of woofer calisthenics can be  tiresome so Track 9, attributed to Virgil Fox, is appropriately titled Come Sweet Death. 

2. Percy Whitlock Organ Sonata.  Plenty of pedal bass accompanied by variety. Track 6 will shake headphones to pieces. 

ken_andrew
22 posts
 

The mentioned earlier, Jean Guillou, organist; Mussorgsky, Pictures at an Exhibition, Stravinsky, 3 Dances from Petrouchka; Dorian is also available on SACD (stereo layer only).  A mandatory purchase. Keep your hand on the volume control. Ideal for temporary hearing loss.

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The CD, The Organ Club 75th Anniversary, track 6, REGCD155, has 5  minutes of generous bass. Rest of CD is uninspiring.  Nothing compares to the SACD above. 

ken_andrew
22 posts
 

The CD titled Die Passauer Domorgel - Helga Schauerte SYR141310 has a selection of loud pieces, including Bach, played on the world's largest church organ.  The piece you want to hear  is Boellmann's Suite Gothique, tk 9 and tk 11. The flutter is like a distant helicopter.

ken_andrew
22 posts
 

Tk 12 of Schauerte SYR14130 is what I imagine to be dinosaur dreaming sounds. No living creature snores with the rhythm, depth, power, and wind volume. 

Another Passau CD to look for is titled Dom Zu Passau - Edgar Krapp Eurodisc 6100 031-231.  Tk 4 is Bach BMV532 and this will warm the sweet spot of your deepest driver. Tk 6 is Reger Intr&Passacaglia which keeps rumbling without its impact being diluted by excessive keyboard accompanient.

 

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