Charles Tournemire's orchestral symphonies

[Julian]

I've recently bought some CDs with symphonies by the French
organist-composer Charles Tournemire 1870-1939) from Brittany. I got
them for very cheap at a clearance sale. Tournemire is noted for his
organ compositions. I purchased Symphonies No. 1, 2, 4, 5, and 7 from
a cycle of orchestral symphonies on the Marco Polo label (Moscow
Symphony Orchestra conducted by Antonio de Almeida). I also purchased
Symphony No. 5, 6, and 8 on the Valois label (Liege Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Pierre Bartholomee). I am still not completely convinced
by Tournemire's music, perhaps in consequence of the questionable
quality of the performances (in particular by the Moscow Symphony
Orchestra).
Has anyone out there listened to Tournemire's symphonies? Please
comment.

Regards,

Julian

[mkperman]

"Julian" <Julia...@web.de> wrote in message
news:56e9029c.0201...@posting.google.com...

I've heard most of them once or twice each, and while the music
hasn't really sunk in, it might not be entirely unfair to dub
Tournemire, at his best, something of a French Mahler.
I was most impressed by the programmatic 7th Symphony, "Les Dances
de la Vie."

Bartholomee and his Liege orchestra sound far more involved in
Tournemire's idiom than does Almeida.

Marc Perman

[Samir Golescu]

Not exactly on topic, Tournemire's few recordings qua organist are among
the most interesting historical recordings on this instrument (not
particularly well served in the historical recordings department, BTW).

regards,
SG

[Eric Schissel]

I listened to sym. 8 and part of sym. 2 on the hnh site, and sym. 5 on the
radio, MPolo recordings each time (with the proviso that Almeida and
orch. were probably not doing the works justice in mind...) - found them
enjoyable and worth my time though not exceptional, which might, given
past experience, translate to better on repeated hearing.
Eric Schissel