Camille Saint-Saens (1835 - 1921)
Symphony No. 3 "Organ", Op. 78
I. Andante - Allegro; Adagio
II Allegro - Presto; Maestoso

No French composer has ever enjoyed more international esteem with his contemporaries than Camille Saint-Saens. Very prolific, his output includes three symphonies, two cello concertos, three violin concertos and five piano concertos. He also wrote many operas, of which "Samson and Delilah" is still often performed. He travelled widely in Europe, visiting London several times, and also visiting Russia, North Africa, the USA, and even South America, which he visited at the age of 81! He was a pianist and organist himself, being the soloist in the first performances of his first and third piano concertos, and was organist at the church of the Madeleine in Paris for almost 20 years.

Most of his work is little played now, being a little too glib (Victorian?) for modern taste. His works are all melodic, pleasant to listen to and richly orchestrated, but rarely reaching any great emotional depths. Curiously, his two works most often performed now - this symphony and the Carnival of the Animals - were both written in the same year: 1886.

The third symphony was commissioned by the London Philharmonic Society, and first performed in London on 19th May 1886 under the composer's direction. The nickname comes from the prominent part for the organ, though even more unusual is the piano part requiring two players. It is cast in two movements, though since each movement is a running together of two sections, it can be seen as a normal four movement symphony with each pair of movements linked. After a short slow introduction, the allegro presents two themes; the first is whispered on violins at once, the second is a more flowing tune derived from the slow introduction. Both themes are developed, separately and together, in the body of the movement, before the tempo unwinds and we move, with the organ now, into the adagio. This calm and peaceful movement is supported by the organ; the main theme glows lovingly, like sunlight through deep stained glass.

The second movement starts vigorously, like a symphonic scherzo and trio. After a fast allegro, the presto section is faster still. Both allegro and presto are repeated, but the presto repeat is cut short, the tempo again relaxes .... and a massive C major on the organ announces the finale proper. The splendid theme is derived from the first movement, wholly transformed, and is presented on organ and strings in turn - notice the decoration by the piano duet. After development, including an energetic fugal section, the music leads inexorably to its triumphant conclusion. "I have given everything that I had to give;" declared Saint-Saens "what I have done here I shall never do again."