Jehan ALAIN - Organ Genius
Posted by: JWM on 07 June 2007
I was going to put this into 'what are you listening to', but on reflection thought it worth flagging more definitely.
I don't know how many Forum members know it already, but I would love to be an advocate for this marvellous music.
Marie-Claire pays fitting tribute to her brother Jehan, the brilliant French organ composer, killed in action in 1940 at the age of 29. He left 34 complete organ compositions, the most famous of which is the magnificent 'Litanies' (which Mrs JWM and I had at our wedding).
The music is simply sublime. Ethereal. Much is modal, based on mediaeval chant themes and keys. He was a contemporary of Debussy, Dukas, Faure and Ravel.
In terms of organ composition, if you like Cochereau, Langlais, Messiaen, Poulenc, Despres, Durufle, you'll LOVE this!!
For an alternative reading, try and track down the (sadly getting hard to find) two discs by Helga Schuarte, then a young Alain scholar, played on a new organ built to the same specification as Alain's own. (I can't find any images of these discs)
There is also a newer recording by Kevin Bowyer on Nimbus, which I haven't heard.
James
I don't know how many Forum members know it already, but I would love to be an advocate for this marvellous music.
Marie-Claire pays fitting tribute to her brother Jehan, the brilliant French organ composer, killed in action in 1940 at the age of 29. He left 34 complete organ compositions, the most famous of which is the magnificent 'Litanies' (which Mrs JWM and I had at our wedding).
The music is simply sublime. Ethereal. Much is modal, based on mediaeval chant themes and keys. He was a contemporary of Debussy, Dukas, Faure and Ravel.
In terms of organ composition, if you like Cochereau, Langlais, Messiaen, Poulenc, Despres, Durufle, you'll LOVE this!!
For an alternative reading, try and track down the (sadly getting hard to find) two discs by Helga Schuarte, then a young Alain scholar, played on a new organ built to the same specification as Alain's own. (I can't find any images of these discs)
There is also a newer recording by Kevin Bowyer on Nimbus, which I haven't heard.
James