Political Organ Music

[BOZ]

In light of the recent discussions of the presidential election in the US, I was trying to think of classical music composed specifically for the organ (not transposed from orchestra, etc.) with a strong political or nationalistic tone. I could only think of the old orchestral classics (1812 Overture, Marche Slav, Finlandia, etc.) I know there must be many such pieces in the classical organ literature, but my mind is nonfunctional today due to PESS (post election stress syndrome).

[soubasse32]

Re: Political Organ Music

E. Power Biggs had an album "Stars and Stripes Forever - Two Centuries of Heroic Music in America". Not all ofthe selections are political and not all of it is originally for organ - but most of it would meet your criteria for 'political organ music'. This information was gleaned from the Organlivewebsite.
<UL>
<LI>SHAW: Trip to Pawtucket </LI>
<LI>BUCK: Concert Variations on The Star Spangled Banner </LI>
<LI>MACDOWELL: A.D. 1620 (from Sea Pieces, Op. 55 No. 3) </LI>
<LI>HEWITT: The Battle of Trenton </LI>
<LI>BILLINGS: Chester </LI>
<LI>ANONYMOUS: Brandywine Quickstep </LI>
<LI>ANONYMOUS: The Duke of York's March </LI>
<LI>ANONYMOUS: Captain Sargent's (Light Infantry Company's) Quick March </LI>
<LI>ANONYMOUS: The Unknown </LI>
<LI>ANONYMOUS: General Burgoyne's March </LI>
<LI>ANONYMOUS: The London March </LI>
<LI>HOLDEN: Donshier Quickstep </LI>
<LI>ANONYMOUS: General Washington's March </LI>
<LI>SOUSA: The Stars and Stripes Forever </LI>
<LI>JOPLIN: Finale from Tremonisha: Marching Onward (A Real Slow Drag) </LI>
<LI>BETHUNE: The Battle of Manassas </LI>[/list]

[Guest]

Re: Political Organ Music

I am sure this is not deliberate but in the Flori Musicali by Frescobaldi there is an organ piece which sounds very much like the beginning of "We Shall Overcome". I used at as a voluntary on the Sunday after Labour got re-elected for the first time in 17 years. It went down very well with out congregation. [:)]

[Havoc]

Re: Political Organ Music



Padre Davide da Bergamo: "Sinfonia col tanto applaudio inno populare" with the Austrian anthem in or "Le sanguinose giornate di marzo ossia la Revolution di Milano" about the revolution in Milan during 1848. What about Yves "America"?</P>

in the Flori Musicali by Frescobaldi there is an organ piece which sounds very much like the beginning of "We Shall Overcome".

</P>

A lot of those themes like you mention are derived from folk melodies. Likewise the "Tiento sobre la Letanía de la Virgen" by Bruna has a theme that is close to "God save the Queen".</P>