First And Last
Azica, 2023
8/10
The organist Christopher Houlihan turns in a body of work that interprets the vision of Louis Vierne and César Franck, and it’s fleshed out on the only French built organ in New York.
Franck’s “Grande Piéce Symphonique, opus 17” starts the listen with soothing, smooth organ prowess that’s quite fluid and sometimes firm, before retreating back to calm for the 5 detailed chapters.
The back half of the listen is Vierne’s work, where the dreamy elegance of “Berceuse no. 19” captures an intimate mood of grace, while “Symphonie No. 6, opus 59” opens with a mysterious, cinematic moment that segues into playful gestures and dancing keys that are frisky and memorable.
A listen that truly does justice to what Houlihan calls the first and the last French Romantic organ symphonies, there’s a wealth of talent and experience to appreciate and absorb, especially for those with an ear for the organ.
Travels well with: David Leisner- Letter To The World; Eric Zuber- The Young Chopin