Fanfare-Toccata (1973)

Thomas Richner (1911–2008) — Fanfare-Toccata (1973) for organ

Thomas Richner (1911–2008) was a concert pianist and organist at Church of Christ Scientist, Mother Church in Boston, Massachusetts for 22 years, until his retirement. Educated primarily at Columbia University, he also studied in Germany with Helmut Walcha. After winning the 1940 Naumburg Foundation Competition, Richner embarked on an active career as a pianist and teacher. As organist of the First Church of Christ, Scientist in New York City, he was involved in the rebuilding of its large Skinner organ. As a pianist, Richner specialized in the music of Mozart and made a large number of piano recordings, including also music of Chopin, Debussy, and one of the first recordings of Bach’s “Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue.” In 1953, he published a book “Orientation for Interpretation Mozart’s Piano Sonatas.” Richner composed only a small amount of music: a few solo vocal works intended for use in the Christian Science services, a couple of pieces for organ, and several cadenzas for Mozart piano concerti.

Published by Harold Flammer (out-of-print)