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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 1 response by ulfsub

ulfsub
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I love your thread here. I also love the Mussorgsky and the Murray recordings you list. Both have bass that goes deep. The Murray is around 12Hz and the Guillou is 8.8Hz and is on track 2 for the footsteps of Gnomus. Lots of good bass that is well recorded. I made a list of other recordings I love that have below 16Hz bass.

Pomp & Pipes Fredrick Fennell Reference Recording RR-58CD

Michael Murray, Bach Methuen, Telarc CD-80049 Fantastic organ but the deep bass is suppressed some and needs to be boosted about 8db for best balance.

Mormon Tabernacle Organ Longhurst, Philips 412-217-2

Jongen: Symphonie Murray, Telarc CD-80096

Encores a la francais Murray, Telarc CD-80104

Dupre, Rheinberger Murray, Telarc CD-80136

Buxtehude series form NAXOS Love the music and the recordings are good.

Cathedral of St. John Murray, Telarc CD-80169 - The cathedral has a LONG resonant time that muddies up some of the deep bass but it is still good.

I agree on the Joyce Jones Motette CD 11491 stated earlier.

Star of Wonder Reference Recording RR-21CD O Come all ye Faithful. Deep but not really even note to note.

Bach on the Biggest Atlantic City Convention Hall ACCHOS/CD/02 - This was an awesome organ!! 449 ranks, 8Hz. The recording is from 1957 and has hiss but it is really fun. Truncated slightly on the deep bass but DEEP and STRONG!!!

Don’t Forget Richard Strauss - Also Sprach Zarathustra on various Telarc, I have it on a sampler and time warp CD-80106 8.5Hz opening pipe!!
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