An organ concerto is a type of classical music composition in which a pipe organ soloist is accompanied by an orchestra, although some works exist with the name "concerto" which are for organ alone.
The orchestral form first evolved in the 18th century, when composers including Antonio Vivaldi and George Frideric Handel wrote organ concertos with small orchestras; these organ parts rarely if ever call for the organ pedal board. During the Classical period the organ concerto became popular in many places, especially in Bavaria, Austria and Bohemia (whether called there a concerto, pastorella, or sonata), reaching a position of being almost an integral part of the church music tradition of jubilus character. From the Romantic era fewer works are known. Finally, there are some 20th- and 21st-century examples, of which the concerto by Francis Poulenc has entered the basic repertoire, and is quite frequently played.
Some works for organ and orchestra which clearly feature the organ in a solo, virtuoso role are not given the name concerto, e.g. the Symphonie concertante of Joseph Jongen.
However, the organ concerto form does not include certain orchestral works that call for the pipe organ to be used as an extra orchestral section, such as the Third Symphony of Camille Saint-Saëns, Gustav Holst's The Planets and Richard Strauss's Also sprach Zarathustra.
In general, the term organ symphony is reserved for works for solo organ without orchestra, although the nickname "Organ Symphony" for the Saint-Saëns Third Symphony persists, though it is neither a concerto nor a true organ symphony.
Composers of organ concertos
Antonio Vivaldi (1678–1741) D minor for violin, organ, strings and basso continuo, RV 541 F major for violin, organ, strings and basso continuo, RV 542 (doubtful) C major for violin, oboe, organ, strings and basso continuo, RV 554 (Rv 554a with cello instead of oboe) F major for 2 violins, 2 organs, double string orchestra and basso continuo, RV 584 (incomplete) A major for 4 violins, 4 recorders, 3 cellos, organ, double string orchestra and basso continuo, RV 585 C minor for violin, organ, strings and basso continuo, RV 766 (RV 510 with two violins) F major for violin, organ, strings and basso continuo, RV 767 (RV 765 with two violins) C major for violin, organ, strings and basso continuo, RV 774 (incomplete) F major for violin, organ, strings and basso continuo, RV 775 (incomplete) C major for violin, organ, strings and basso continuo, RV 808
George Frideric Handel (1685–1759)
Handel wrote organ concertos as interludes for his oratorios—playing the organ part himself while directing the orchestra. Some are arrangements of his earlier works, or of works by other composers. For more details see the list of Handel's concertos. Many alternatives exist, so it is difficult to precisely number his organ concertos, however it is generally accepted that he wrote 16: HWV 289 – Op. 4 No. 1 in G minor: larghetto, allegro, adagio, andante HWV 290 – Op. 4 No. 2 in B-flat major: tempo ordinario, allegro, adagio, allegro ma non troppo HWV 291 – Op. 4 No. 3 in G minor: adagio, allegro, adagio, allegro HWV 292 – Op. 4 No. 4 in F major: allegro, andante, adagio, allegro HWV 293 – Op. 4 No. 5 in F major: larghetto, allegro, alla siciliana, presto HWV 294 – Op. 4 No. 6 in B-flat major: andante, allegro, larghetto, allegro moderato HWV 306 – Op. 7 No. 1 in B-flat major: andante, allegro, largo, adagio, allegro HWV 307 – Op. 7 No. 2 in A major: overture, tempo ordinario, tempo ordinario II, allegro HWV 308 – Op. 7 No. 3 in B-flat major: allegro, fuga, spiritoso, minuets 1 & 2 HWV 309 – Op. 7 No. 4 in D minor: adagio, allegro, adagio, allegro HWV 310 – Op. 7 No. 5 in G minor: allegro ma non troppo, adagio, andante, minuet, gavotte HWV 311 – Op. 7 No. 6 in B-flat major: pomposo, adagio, tempo ordinario HWV 295a – F major (No. 13): largo, allegro, larghetto, allegro HWV 295b – second version: larghetto, allegro, larghetto, allegro HWV 296a – A major (No. 14) : largo e staccato, organo ad libitum: fuga – allegro, andante, grave, allegro HWV 296b – second version, Pasticcio Konzert: andante, adagio, grave, andante allegro, a tempo ordinario HWV 304 – D minor (No. 15) : andante, organo ad libitum: adagio – fuga, allegro HWV 305a – F major (No. 16) : concerto, allegro, andante, andante allegro HWV 305b – second version: overture, allegro, andante, andante allegro
Organ concertos arranged from Concerti Grossi, Op.6 HWV 297 – D minor, after HWV 328: overture, air, allegro, allegro, allegro moderato HWV 298 – G major, after HWV 319: a tempo giusto, allegro, adagio, allegro, allegro HWV 299 – D major, after HWV 323 : larghetto e staccato, allegro, presto, largo, allegro, minuet un poco larghetto HWV 300 – G minor, after HWV 324 : largo e affettuoso, a tempo giusto, musette larghetto, allegro, allegro
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
There are no true organ concerti (i.e., for organ and orchestral ensemble) by Bach, but several cantata movements contain extensive obbligato organ parts. Versions of six of these cantata movements had a later incarnation in the two harpsichord concertos BWV 1052 and 1053. Cantata 35 contains two instrumental Sinfonias with organ solo, the first of which agrees with the fragmentary keyboard concerto BWV 1059. A recording of a reconstruction of this as an organ concerto was made by Ton Koopman.
Bach's admiration for Antonio Vivaldi and the Italian style led to several transcriptions of instrumental concertos for solo organ, without an orchestra.
Gregor Joseph Werner (1693–1766) The Austrian composer Gregor Joseph Werner wrote a concerto in B-flat major for organ, 2 chalumeaux and string orchestra, dated 1753: Allegro – Largo – Tempo di menuet (manuscript: Országos Széchényi Könyvtár, Budapest: Ms.mus III.305; RISM: 530003636), as well as other concertos for organ and string or chamber orchestra. Besides these he wrote a pastorella in D major for organ and string orchestra: Andante – Larghetto – Allegro.
Johann Adolf Hasse (1699–1783) The German composer Johann Adolf Hasse wrote six concertos for organ (or harpsichord) and orchestra, published in London ca 1743.
Michel Corrette (1707–1795) The French organist-composer Michel Corrette wrote six concertos.
Concerto No. 1 in G major: allegro, aria I, aria II, allegro Concerto No. 2 in A major: allegro, adagio, allegro Concerto No. 3 in D major: adagio, aria, andante, adagio, allegro Concerto No. 4 in C major: allegro, aria, allegro Concerto No. 5 in F major: allegro, aria, allegro Concerto No. 6 in D minor: allegro, andante, presto
Marianus Königsperger (1708–1769) The German composer Marianus Königsperger wrote six concertos and two pastorellas for organ and string orchestra, with two trumpets or horns ad libitum, Op. 18 (Certamen musicum complectens VI. concerta communia et II. pastoritia, Augustae-Vindelicorum: sumptibus Joannis Jacobi Lotteri Haeredum, 1754).
Georg von Reutter (1708–1772) The Austrian composer Georg von Reutter wrote a concerto in F major for organ (or harpsichord) and string orchestra.
Thomas Arne (1710–1778) The English composer Thomas Arne composed six concertos.
Concerto No. 1 in C major: largo ma con spirito, andante, allegro, minuetto Concerto No. 2 in G major: allegro, lento, moderato, allegro, con spirito Concerto No. 3 in A major: con spirito, con spirito, minuetto, moderato Concerto No. 4 in B-flat major: con spirito, minuetto, giga moderato Concerto No. 5 in G minor: largo, allegro con spirito, adagio, vivace Concerto No. 6 in B-flat major: allegro, moderato, ad libitum, allegro, minuetto
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714–1788) The German composer Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach wrote several concertos for keyboard instrument (organ as one possible option), including the following: Concerto in G major for organ (or harpsichord), strings and basso continuo, dated 1755 (Helm 444; Wq. 34): Allegro di molto – Largo – Presto. Concerto in E-flat major for organ (or harpsichord), strings and basso continuo, with optional French horns, dated 1759 (Helm 446; Wq. 35): Allegro ma non troppo – Adagio sostenuto – Allegro assai. Concerto No. 4 in B-flat major for organ and orchestra: Con spirito – Minuetto – Giga. Concerto No. 5 in G minor for organ and orchestra: Largo – Allegro con spirito – Adagio – Vivace. Concerto No. 6 in B-flat major for organ and orchestra: Allegro moderato – Minuetto – Variations.
Georg Christoph Wagenseil (1715–1777) The Austrian composer Georg Christoph Wagenseil wrote several concertos for organ (or harpsichord) and string orchestra, of which six were published in London in 1761 and another set of six also in London by Welcker ca 1765.
Johann Georg Zechner (1716–1778) The Austrian composer Johann Georg Zechner wrote at least four concertos for keyboard instrument and (string) orchestra; either one of them or another work in F major is recorded by Franz Haselböck and Capella Academica Wien, conducted by Eduard Melkus, as an organ concerto: Allegro – Adagio – Presto (Hänssler Classic CD 94.052).
Joseph Anton Xaver Auffmann (ca 1720–1773 or later) The German composer Joseph Anton Xaver Auffmann wrote at least three concertos for organ and chamber orchestra, Op. 1 (Triplex concentus organicus, seu III. concerti organici à octo instrumentis, Augustæ-Vindelicorum: sumptibus Joannis Jacobi Lotteri Hæredum, 1754).
Antonio Soler (1729–1783) The Spanish composer Antonio Soler wrote six concertos for two organs (without other instruments):
Concerto No. 1 in C major: andante, minué Concerto No. 2 in A minor: andante-allegro, tempo di minué Concerto No. 3 in G: andantino, minué Concerto No. 4 in F: afectuoso, andante non largo, minué Concerto No. 5 in A: cantabile, minué Concerto No. 6 in D: allegro-andante-allegro-andante, minué
František Xaver Brixi (1732–1771) The Czech composer František Xaver Brixi wrote at least six concertos for organ (or harpsichord) and chamber orchestra, e.g.: Concerto in D major for organ and chamber orchestra (two horns, two violins and bass): Allegro moderato – Adagio – Allegro (manuscript: Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek, Bonn: Ec 252.5; RISM 450.064.567). Concerto in D major for organ and chamber orchestra (two trumpets, two oboes, strings, bass, timpani): Allegro molto – Andante molto – Allegro molto (manuscript: Konvent minoritů v Praze, Prague: 16; RISM 551.000.016).
Joseph Haydn (1732–1809) The Austrian composer Joseph Haydn wrote at least three concertos for organ: Concerto Hob. XVIII:1 in C major for organ (or harpsichord) and orchestra, dated tentatively 1756. Concerto Hob. XVIII:2 in D major for organ (or harpsichord) and orchestra, composed no later than 1767. Concerto Hob. XVIII:6 in F major for violin and organ (or harpsichord) with string orchestra, composed no later than 1766. Besides these, several of his keyboard concertos are performed with organ. There are also works attributed him, dubiously or spuriously: Concerto Hob. deest in C major for organ and chamber orchestra (2 trumpets, 2 violins, basso continuo), composed no later than 1790–1810: Andante – Presto (manuscript: Slovenské národné múzeum – Hudobné múzeum, Bratislava: MUS XII 42; RISM 570.000.177).
Johann Georg Albrechtsberger (1736–1809) The Austrian composer Johann Georg Albrechtsberger wrote a concerto in B-flat major for organ and string orchestra, dated 1762, and published as volume 1 in Musica rinata series (Budapest: Zenemükiadó, 1964).
Michael Haydn (1737–1806) The Austrian composer Michael Haydn wrote concerto MH 41 in C major for viola and organ (or harpsichord) with orchestra, dated 19 December 1761 (the year is uncertain).
Sir William Herschel (1738–1822) The German-born English astronomer and composer Sir William Herschel wrote at least two concertos for organ and orchestra: