Recordings

Solo Recordings

Cosmos Consciousness

Born in Avignon to Pierre Messiaen, a Shakespeare scholar, and the poet Cécile Sauvage, Olivier Messiaen (1908 – 1992) exhibited a rare musical talent from an early age. He was admitted to the Paris Conservatory at age eleven, where he won five First Prizes – notably in classes with Marcel Dupré (organ), Maurice Emmanuel (music history), and Paul Dukes (composition).

Mendelssohn: Complete Organ Works

The six organ sonatas by Felix Mendelssohn (1809 – 1847) are not sonatas in the classical sense of that term. Rather, they are a collection of multi-movement suites, composed mostly between 1844 and 1845 – just after his founding the Leipzig Conservatory. By the time these sonatas were composed, Mendelssohn was well known as composer, pianist, and organist, having made many tours as a soloist throughout Germany and England. Released October 16, 2022

Sweelinck: Master of the Dutch Renaissance

Sweelinck (1562 – 1621) was, without doubt the greatest keyboard player of his day, the first known organ recitalist, the most famous and ingenious improviser of his lifetime, the greatest single influence on the succeeding generation of Northern European composers and performers, and one of the earliest musical entrepreneurs. Released September 20, 2021

La Nativité du Seigneur: Nine Meditations for Organ

This was recorded on the huge Létourneau pipe organ in Oakland’s Christ the Light Cathedral. The music is both virtuosic and meditative, soulful, spiritual, modern. Released 2021

Paris – Between the Wars, Vol. 1

Recorded in High Resolution Audio (24-bit, 96kHz) at the Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland, California, this recording takes a first (in a series) look at the spectacular musical output in Paris during the years between the First and Second World Wars. The astounding acoustics of Christ the Light, and the superb Létourneau organ there, are ideally suited to this sonic experience.

French Masterworks for St. John the Divine

released January 23, 2023

Bach: Clavierübung III

Recorded on two German baroque organs concurrent with the writing of these magnificent 27 pieces, the Klosterkirche in Grauhof (built by Treutmann in 1737) and the St. Wilhadi Kirche in State (built by Erasmus Bielfeldt in 1736), Bach’s music comes alive here as in few places in the world.

Solo Recordings

Bach: Clavierübung III
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French Masterworks for St. John the Divine
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La Nativité du Seigneur: Nine Meditations for Organ
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Sweelinck: Master of the Dutch Renaissance
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Mendelssohn: Complete Organ Works
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Paris – Between the Wars, Vol. 1
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Cosmos Consciousness
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A British Organ: Sounds of an Empire
Bach at Haarlem
The Romance of the Organ
Transformation
Frank La Rocca: In This Place

Sweelinck: Master of the Dutch Renaissance

Ensemble Recordings

Bach: Cantatas 51, 54, 55 & 82
American Bach Soloists;
Koch 3-7106-2
Rated “Critics Choice for 1992” by Gramophone magazine

Bach: Cantatas 198, 156, 8
American Bach Soloists;
Koch 3-7163-2

Bach: Cantatas 140, 78, 80
American Bach Soloists;
Koch 3-7234-2

Bach: Cantatas for Holy Week
American Bach Soloists;
Koch 3-7235-2

Bach: Harpsichord concerto, Psalm 51:
American Bach Soloists;
Koch 3-7237-2

Bach: Cantatas 18, 12, 61
American Bach Soloists;
Koch 3-7332-2

Bach: St. Matthew Passion BWV 244;
American Bach Soloists;
Koch 3-7424-2 (3-CD set)

Haydn “Lord Nelson Mass”
American Bach Soloists;
Koch 3-7404-2

Shin Buddhist Gathas: Organ works, 1994; BCA Records

Charles Ives: Symphony 3 “The Camp Meeting” and Symphony 4, plus 14 minutes of selected hymns, San Francisco Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas, Director; SFS Media

Deified – Wagner “The Ring” (abridged for brass & organ); National Brass Ensemble; Eun Sun Kim, Director; Decca, 2023

The Wedding Collection: Organ selections, 1994; Warner Music, Time Warner

Mozart: Mass in C minor; Bach: Magnificat;
San Francisco Lyric Chorus, August 2001 (independently produced)

Duruflé: Requiem;
San Francisco Lyric Chorus (independently produced)

Duruflé: Messe ‘cum jubilo,’ Veni Creator variations; Golden Gate Men’s Chorus, Joseph Jennings, Director; recorded at St. Ignatius Church, San Francisco; GGMC 9053; 2002

The Organ: A Mirror of its Time;
1997 (2002); GOArt CD 001 (produced under the auspices of the European Commission ORSEV project – “The Organ as a Symbol of the European Vision”)

Classics Live, vol. 1; Duruflé Requiem;
The Pacific Mozart Ensemble; recorded on the Rosales organ at First Presbyterian Church, Oakland, CA

Ceremonies & Celebrations: From Northern Germany’s Colossal Baroque;
The San Francisco Bach Choir; SFBC2; 2002

Wedding Music Choices from St. Ignatius Church, San Francisco; 2002, (independently produced)

Bernstein & Britten: Chichester Psalms, Rejoice in the Lamb;
recorded live April 1 & 2, 2005; San Francisco Choral Society, Robert Geary, Director; (independently produced)

Mahler: Symphony 8;
San Francisco Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas, Director; 2009 *
*Grammy Award Winner: Best Classical Recording of 2009