Virgil Fox at Girard - Willan:Introduction Passacaglia & Fugue [Recorded 1941] 

This is possibly one of my favourite pieces of 20th Century organ music. It is simply a monumental work of fantastic gravitas and excitement.

Perfect performance. Virgil in his prime. Bless his life and memory among those of us who were fortunate enough to hear him.

My goodness, this is incredible. It's all the more profound, mystical and ferocious (by turns) for the way he lets it breathe so freely.

Spectacular playing...and superb musicianship. Between Virgil and Frederick Swann, it's hard to say who's better...they both bring the music to life.

Well he simply let the acoustics breathe and takes care how fast or slow his registrations attack the sound. This is true artwork, simply perfect.

Healey Willan was a Canadian, marvelous composer, organist, and choir director. Of course, Virgil Fox was cute in those days. Heck I was a baby in 1941 L.R.Clements , Toronto Canada

This astounding recording was never released by RCA Victor Red Seal. It required 4 sides (2 recordings). Virgil and I discussed it many times over the 19 years I worked with and for him but never really got an answer as to why it wasn't released. The organ at Girard College was the perfect instrument. It was in his plan to prepare it sooner or later for his concertizing but time did not allow that. It was never released by RCA to my knowledge, nor authorized to be released by the Virgil Fox Estate, however having said that,,I'm glad it is being heard

Until I heard this recording, I didn't realize that Virgil included this work in his repertoire. For many years, Fred was the only major artist who played it....he really kept it alive, and I'm happy that a younger generation of organists has embraced it.

Notice the clarity of the articulation throughout the fast passages. A feat in that room!

Very interesting to hear Fox being neither the spark-shooting megavirtuoso nor the ultra-Romantic arranger but simply a good organist, subservient to the music. This is my favourite recording of the Willan and also my favourite of Fox. The Skinner in the Celestial Bathtub sounds as fantastic as ever - and of course this was before some of the big reeds were revoiced. Peter Sykes' Holst Planets on the same organ (also on RU-vid) is just amazing...

6:48

I heard Him do a Live Concert here years ago 94 Psalm and much more NO Music in front of Him I was Blessed to be there

The Reed battery of which you speak at Girard were indeed revoiced to compensate to meet two primary factors, location and the new organists desire. The reeds were done by Jack Berger, from the great MP Moller Company, and the new organist was Carlo Curley

Thank you for making this gem available...never heard Virgil play this. Wow!

Gorgeous !!!!

Touching Infinity.

YES MY LORD!!!!! VIRGIL FOX IS A GENIUS!!!!!

Thanks fore sharing this <3

Learn more about the music of Healey Willan at the new Willan website -

How in the world did you find this recording? I have practically every record that Virgil recorded, but I never heard this piece before. Incidentally, I saw him perform three times. He was such a nice man