C.M. Widor Flashcards
What are Widor’s organ symphonies (overview)
Symphony no. 1 in C minor
Symphony no. 2 in D major
Symphony no. 3 in e minor
Symphony no. 4 in f minor
All above op. 13
Symphony no. 5 in f Minor
Symphony no. 6 in g minor
Symphony no. 7 in a minor
Symphony no. 8 in B major
All above op. 42
Symphony no. 9 “Gothique,” op. 70, in c minor
Symphony no. 10 “Romane,” op. 73, in D major
What are some pieces appearing after Widor’s symphonies?
Op. 86 Suite Latine
Op. 87 Trois Nouvelles Pieces
Details about Widor’s first organ symphony
Symphony no. 1 in c minor, op. 13, no. 1, pub. 1872
I. prelude
II. Allegretto
III. Intermezzo
IV. Adagio
V. Marche pontificale
VI. Meditation
VII. Finale (Double Fugue)
Mvts. V and VI added in 1887 edition
Details about Widor’s second organ symphony
Symphony no. 2 in D major, op. 13, no. 2
I. Praeludium Circulare
II. Pastorale
III. [Andante]
IV. Salve Regina (replaced a Scherzo in the 1901 edition)
V. Adagio
VI. Finale
Details about Widor’s third organ symphony
Symphony No. 3 in E minor, Op. 13, No. 3
[I.] Prélude
II. Minuetto
III. Marcia
IV. Adagio
V. Final (originally was a fugue, which was replaced in the 1887 edition)
Details about Widor’s fourth organ symphony
Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 13, No. 4
I. Toccata
II. Fugue
III. Andante cantabile
IV. Scherzo (the only movement titled “scherzo” in the final edition of the symphonies)
V. Adagio
VI. Finale
(Movements III and IV added in the 1887 edition)
Details about Widor’s fifth organ symphony
Symphony No. 5 in F minor, Op. 42, No. 1, first edition in 1879
I. [Allegro vivace] (free theme and variations)
II. [Allegro cantabile]
III. [Andante quasi allegretto] (scherzo)
IV. [Adagio]
V. Toccata
Details about Widor’s sixth organ symphony
Symphony No. 6 in G minor (Op. 42, No. 2, composed before Symphonie V in F minor, premiered with the title 5me Symphonie in the series of inaugural concerts for the Cavaillé-Coll organ at the Trocadéro, in 1878, first edition in 1879
I. [Allegro]
II. [Adagio]
III. Intermezzo
IV. [Cantabile]
V. Finale
Details about Widor’s eigth organ symphony
Symphony No. 8 in B Major (Op. 42, No. 4
[I.] [Allegro risoluto]
II. [Moderato cantabile]
III. [Allegro]
IV. Variations, a passacaglia—a theme is presented in the pedals followed by 11 variations, a Prélude precedes this movement in the 1887 edition)
V. Adagio
VI. Finale
Details about Widor’s ninth organ symphony
Opus 70 Symphonie gothique, published 1895, C minor
-written for the Gothic church of St. Ouen, Rouen
I. [Moderato]
II. [Andante sostenuto]
III. [Allegro] in measure 69, the liturgical theme, “Puer natus est,” is introduced in the symphony for the first time.
IV. [Moderato] Theme and 6 variations, uses “Puer natus est”
Details about Widor’s tenth organ symphony
Opus 73 Symphonie romane, published 1900, D Major
-written for the Romanesque church of St. Sernin, Toulouse
-based on the Haec Dies Easter hymn
-only Widor organ symphony for which an autograph manuscript, though incomplete, has surfaced—completed 20 July 1899
I. [Moderato]
II. Choral
III. Cantilène, Haec Dies is not used, but rather the Easter Sequence Victimae paschali
IV. Final
What are the details around Widor’s works for organ and orchestra?
Opus 42, Symphonie pour orgue et orchestra, 1882
-3 movements: outer movements form Organ Symphony No. 6; middle movement (Andante) from Organ Symphony No. 2
Opus 69 Troisième Symphonie, for organ and orchestra
-completed in 1893; premiered 1894
-written for the inauguration of the new Victoria Hall in Geneva, Switzerland and its Kuhn organ
-performed throughout Europe: Berlin, London, Rome, Barcelona, Paris, Strasburg
-in two parts: 1). Andante 2). Vivace (a scherzo)
-uses a choral-like theme throughout
Opus 81 Sinfonia sacra, for organ and orchestra, 1907
-is based on the Advent choral “Nun komm der Heiden Heiland,” which is derived from the hymn “Veni Redemptor gentium”
-in 3 parts, the last being a fugue
