David Mason and his colleagues, Richard Goodall and Richard Patt, experts at Viscount Organs, are undoubtedly in a good position to come up with a most interesting organ playlist in which the selected works are as relevant as the imponent instruments in which they are performed.

1Jehan Alain: Litanies

Alain's Litanies is his most famous work and is prefaced with the text; 'When, in its distress, the Christian soul can find no more words to invoke God's mercy, it repeats endlessly the same litany… for reason has reached its limit; only faith can take one further...' Here is his sister Marie-Claire Alain performing one of the most exciting versions we have heard.


2J.S. Bach: Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor

Bach’s famous Passacaglia played superbly by Dutch organist and conductor Ton Koopman. This recording really builds in excitement right to the end of the piece.


3Norman Cocker: Tuba Tune

I love this piece and particularly like the James Vivien recording played on the historic Harrison & Harrison organ of Temple Church. It just makes me smile whenever I hear it.


4Marcel Dupré: Prelude and Fugue in G minor, Op.7 no. 3

For my colleague Richard and I there was really only one recording to choose here, that of Yves Castagnet (titular organist of the choir organ of Notre-Dame de Paris) playing the organ of Notre-Dame and all from memory. Simply breathtaking.


5Maurice Duruflé: Prélude et Fugue sur le nom d'Alain, Op.7

I really love this piece and in particular this recording by Vincent Warnier at the organ of Saint-Sulpice with the great Daniel Roth page turning.



6W.A. Mozart: The Marriage of Figaro: overture, arranged by Jonathan Scott

Not a piece originally for organ, but Jonathan Scott is a master at arranging orchestral scores for organ and I just love his use of registration. His technique is faultless and his arrangement of The Marriage of Figaro played on the Marcussen organ of Bridgewater Hall is simply stunning.


7Camille Saint-Saëns: Danse macabre, arranged by Edwin Lemare

Possibly not a conventional performance of this arrangement, but this rendition by Olivier Latry playing the Rieger organ at the Philharmonie de Paris is my favourite.


8Ralph Vaughan Williams: Three Preludes for Organ: Rhosymedre

One of the most beautiful organ pieces written by Vaughan Williams. I think this version played by Stefan Schwarz is rather lovely.


9Louis Vierne: Symphony no. 1 in D minor, Op.14: Finale

Such a well-known and exciting piece. Real organ fireworks here. I’ve always loved this version played by Pétur Sakari who was only 17 when he recorded this. It has so much life and vigour.


10Charles-Marie Widor: Organ Symphony no. 5 in F minor: Toccata

Everyone knows this piece, but I feel it is always played much too fast. Here is a recording by Widor himself which gives you a sense of a more stately speed where individual notes can be heard.