Charles-Marie Widor (1844-1937) composed his Organ Symphony No. 2 in D major in 1872. Like his Symphony No. 1, it is less a symphony than a suite, in this case, six short movements Prelude Circulare (Andantino), Pastorale (Moderato), Andante, Salve Regina (Allegro), Adagio, and Finale (Allegro), to which Widor added a Scherzo (Allegro) in 1887. And like his Symphony No. 1, Widor's Second is an extremely difficult work demanding an organist of supreme technique and no inhibitions about displaying it. Unlike his First, however, Widor's Second has no movements that are frequently excerpted to grant the work a degree of familiarity to concert audiences, and it remains known almost exclusively among organists.

© James Leonard, All Music Guide