Edward Taylor plays Mushel: Toccata

Georgi Mushel (1909 - 1989) was a pianist and composer who taught at the Conservatory in the remote region of Tashkent in Uzbekistan. His Toccata comes from a Suite on Uzbek folk melodies and has great rhythmic drive throughout.
Performed on the organ of Carlisle Cathedral

[@terrygower9898]

I've just returned from a lunchtime recital where this was the closing piece. The recitalist also commented that Mushel's original ending was the pedal glissando. Apparently the publishers deemed this 'too difficult' for the album of which it was to form part. Great playing.

[@stanleymonkhouse]

Fantastic! Great pace. Thank God its not a heavy tracker - I needed hand surgery after trying to play it on one. It finished rather slower than it started.

[@EdwardTaylorOrganist]

Ha ha I know what you mean. I have done a few Widors on heavy tracker. Not fun!

[@jimbrennan2254]

Nicely played. My left rist has never got better exercise with this one. Played last day of school and pulled all the stops out

[@EdwardTaylorOrganist]

Certainly a good one for left hand technique, keeping relaxed etc. Sounds like a good piece to go out on!

[@jerrymartin79]

What an exciting piece - great performance as always! This one is new to me!

[@EdwardTaylorOrganist]

great fun isn't it. Many thanks. you should add this to the study list too!

[@arihall]

My first experience of the Mushel Toccata was a 1971 recording on the Rediffusion label from Liverpool Cathedral with Noel Rawsthorne. He ended the piece with a short coda which included a wonderful glissando, which I think works a bit better than Mushel's final somewhat dry chord. I'll try and convert it to an MP3 and post it.

[@EdwardTaylorOrganist]

Yes, I have that CD. Some one told me that was the original ending and Mushel wasn't allowed to print it! Maybe it was just NR having a bit of fun!