Embedded Files
I'm Confessin' (That I Love You)
I'm Confessin' (That I Love You)
Played for us by Norm Bailey. Based on the 1930 recording made by The Poet of the Organ: Jesse Crawford. "When I first heard this 78-recording played by Jesse I knew I had to give it a go. In this recording I have elected to change the Piano lead section. I know…who am I to change the great Jesse Crawford arrangement…but I never liked it and others like Jelani Eddington did. I know I’m not Jelani either."
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Played for us by Stephen Ades. The words of this song, written by Elton John's longstanding lyricist Bernie Taupin, tell the story of a young hopeful and of his disenchantment with a promised land of opportunity ("you can't plant me in your penthouse, I'm going back to my plough"), using imagery taken from The Wizard of Oz.
Elton John's flamboyant style of composition and performance are depicted here using the substantial resources of the Modern Fox Wurlitzer sample set.
Dream (When You're Feeling Blue)
Dream (When You're Feeling Blue)
Played for us by Norm Bailey. Words and music written by Johnny Mercer in 1944. The tune starts with simple block chords then a foxtrot with the Chicago style and finishes up with a Latin American pattern complete with tambourine & claves. A great way to show off the many voices of this organ.
Appalachian Spring
Appalachian Spring
Played for us by Stephen Ades. This extract from Copland's composition runs from the section 'Simple Gifts' to the end of the piece.
The Fox Special organs were built with unusual specifications for a Wurlitzer. In place of the Orchestral division there is a Bombarde and the overall specification is rather similar to British organs of the period, in particular to Compton's concert organs. This specification makes the organ particularly suited to transcriptions of symphonic music.
All the things you are
All the things you are
Played for us by Norm Bailey. Composed by Jerome Kern - lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Arranged for organ by Lee Erwin. Norm decided to revisit this piece because he found a recording of Lee playing this exact arrangement. Here it is played as a slow ballad, whereas Lee plays it with a beat.
I won't dance
I won't dance
Played for us by Stephen Ades. In the film "Roberta", Fred Astaire sings "I won't dance" to Ginger Rogers while he conducts the dance orchestra. His excuse is "I know that music leads the way to romance, so if I hold you in my arms, I won't dance". However, the owners of the venue have a very different idea about this and a pair of heavies then pick him up and carry him down to the dance floor, where he performs an extensive tap dance routine to the tune of the song.
These two stages are wonderfully evoked on the Modern Fox Wurlitzer sample set.
Firebird Suite (Berceuse & Finale)
Firebird Suite (Berceuse & Finale)
Played for us by Stephen Ades. Igor Stravinsky's Firebird Suite (Berceuse & Finale). The Firebird ballet draws from Russian folklore. With the help of the mythical Firebird, Prince Ivan Tsarevich seeks to free thirteen princesses who have been imprisoned by the spells of an evil sorcerer Koschei. Through dancing, The Firebird casts her own spells on Koschei and his guards, making them fall asleep. This arrangement for organ is by Maurice Besly, who has helpfully annotated the arrangement with indications of Stravinsky's orchestrations.
When I'm 64
When I'm 64
Played for us by Stephen Ades. One reason for the enormous success of The Beatles was the very wide variety of songs that they wrote, from heavy rock rhythms to light jaunty pieces. This song is at the jaunty end of the range. It was one of the first songs that Paul McCartney wrote, at around the age of 14 and long before the Beatles were formed. It was recorded by the Beatles for the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album, featuring a trio of clarinets, in the year that Paul's father turned 64.
Oklahoma! Medley
Oklahoma! Medley
Played for us by Stephen Ades. The musical Oklahoma! was the first collaboration between Rodgers and Hammerstein. Opening in 1943, it broke box office records for longest runs and largest audiences; today still around 600 performances are licensed a year in North America. The plot revolves around squabbles and rivalries in small town America. The songs in this selection are:
The surrey with the fringe on top
People will say we're in love
Oklahoma
Oh what a beautiful morning
I can't say no
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse