Artwork as Theme

Improvisation no.III, Wassily Kandinsky, 1911

Improvisation no.III,
Wassily Kandinsky, 1911

Most certainly since the Romantics began to compose programmatic music, there has been a close tie between visual art and music. Perhaps the most famous example is the set of piano pieces Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky. It only follows then that organists would then be asked or inspired to improvise music based upon a painting.


Recordings:

Edoardo Bellotti
Promenade: a Musical Procession Through Paintings

Videos:
Jean-Baptiste Dupont – improvisation on the paintings of M.K.Churlionis
Vidas Pinkevicius – Painting: Pieta
Vidas Pinkevicius – Painting: Sleeping Beauty

David Briggs

DavidBriggsDavid Briggs is organist at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. Previously he served as Artist in Residence at St. James Cathedral, Toronto.
Complete bio.

David Briggs has a YouTube Channel. You can also hear him on Spotify.


Recordings:

Sounds French – David Briggs Plays the Organ of Blackburn Cathedral
Includes an improvised symphony by David Briggs as well as two improvisations by Pierre Cochereau transcribed and played by David Briggs.


Sounds Artistic
Includes an improvised suite of dances and Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky.


Organ Spectacular
Includes improvised Prelude, Adagio and Chorale Variations on Ein Feste Burg.


Briggs: Mass for Notre Dame
In addition to the choral music of David Briggs sung by the Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge under the direction of Stephen Layton, David Briggs improvised other parts of the traditional mass when the organ would play without the choir singing.


Hommage à Pierre Cochereau
Improvisations by George Baker, David Briggs, Thierry Escaich and Loïc Mallié.

Videos:
Fugue at St. Sulpice
Sortie at St. Sulpice
Offertoire at St. Sulpice
Sarabande Improvisée – St Wenzelkirche, Naumburg