Toccata Festival Uploaded by: giovdan Composer: Sixten, Fredrik Organ: Notre Dame de Metz Mutin/Cavaillé-Coll Software: Hauptwerk IV Views: 1125
Marche for a festival Uploaded by: FredM Composer: W Henry Maxwell Organ: Utrecht - Dom, Bätz Organ Software: Hauptwerk IV Views: 62
Festival Piece on Nicaea Uploaded by: arpch01 Composer: Westenhuehler, Jerry Organ: Salisbury Cathedral Father Willis Software: Hauptwerk IV Views: 382
Festival Toccata Uploaded by: Bartfloete Composer: Fletcher, Percy Eastman Organ: Laurenskerk - Main Organ - 1973 Marcussen & Son Software: Hauptwerk IV Views: 1509
Festival Fanfare (1990) Uploaded by: CarsonCooman Composer: Penfield, Craig A. Organ: Salisbury Cathedral Father Willis Software: Hauptwerk IV Views: 563
The Continental Uploaded by: Keys61 Composer: arranged for organ by Cronham, Charles R. Organ: Paramount 341 Software: Hauptwerk IV Views: 246
In the days leading up to 19th March, St Joseph's Day, Los Valencianos prepare to celebrate the end of Winter in one of Spain's wildest festivals -"Las Fallas" - the festival of fire. Huge dolls or "ninots" are paraded through the streets with marching bands and Spanish Ladies in traditional dress. On the final night "La Cremá" the young men, with the usual Spanish disregard for health and safety, poke holes in the papier mache shells and fill the dolls with fireworks before they are all set alight in a scene described as Disneyland meets Armageddon :-)
I doubt that British organist Charles Smitton ever visited Las Fallas. It would have been difficult during the war years and the Franco dictatorship. But his 1953 composition perfectly describes the scene. I have only heard one recording of this piece - by the composer himself at the 3/9 Compton of the Gaumont Birmingham from a BBC broadcast in the 1950's and was struck by its vigour.