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At-A-Glance

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Length: c. 8 minutes

About this Piece

The first Organ Symphony by Charles Widor (1844-1937) consists of seven movements, the fifth of which carries the title “Marche Pontificale,” perhaps drawing influence from a similar march of the same title by Charles Gounod. Widor uses an A-B-A form, commencing and ending with a loud melody in chords and pedals in octaves, with the dense, busy contrasting section maintaining the unyielding pomp of the opening.