Amann, Aloise (1834-1899) FR – Symphonie pastorale pour le temps de Nöel. I
... pieces – the Second Symphony is a re-working of her 2nd violin Sonata.
The Organ Symphonie
A Allouard-Carny, Odette (b. 1914) FR – Symphonie de la lumière, 1966. As far as I can tell, this piece has not been published. Henderson states that it is a 16-minute work, I've found no further information from other sources. Allouard-Carny studied with Victor-Dynam Fumet and has been organist at Sainte-Anne-de-la-MaisonBlanche in Paris. Amann, Aloise (1834-1899) FR – Symphonie pastorale pour le temps de Nöel. I have not heard this work nor studied the score, which was published. Amann was a monk or priest from Alsace. The Symphonie was most recently available from Editions Delatour. Andreé, Elfrida – (1841-1929) SW – Organ Symphony in B-minor and Second Organ Symphony (with added wind instruments). Andreé was the first woman appointed organist in a Swedish cathedral. Both works are traditional, romantic pieces – the Second Symphony is a re-working of her 2 nd violin Sonata. The 1 st Symphony was published by Augener, the 2nd has been re-issued recently by Cantando Musikkforlag. Andriessen, Hendrik – (1892-1981) NL – Sinfonia, 1938/40. Andriessen was an organist and composer in Haarlem and at Utrecht Cathedral as well as Director of the Conservatories at Utrecht and The Hague. I have the score and a recording of his Sinfonia. There are 4 movements: 1 – Fantasia, 2 – Fuga, 3 – Andante, 4 – Final. The first movement is a somewhat free fantasy that develops several themes. The Fuga is a double Fugue that develops both themes separately, then later together with great contrapuntal skill.
Fugue Theme 1
Fugue Theme 2 The Andante is a soft, short interlude that sets up the Final, an exciting Toccata which incorporates themes from previous movements as well as its own themes. The Sinfonia was published by Hermann Zengerink, I am not sure whether it is still in print. It was recorded as a part of the complete works 4-CD set by (name here) which is unfortunately no longer available.
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The Organ Symphonie
B Barié, Augustin – (1884-1915) FR – Symphonie in Bb. Barié studied with Vierne and Guilmant. This 5-movement work is cyclical in form, the theme recurs throughout the movements in different guises. The Symphonie was published by Durand. Barnes, E.S. – (1887-1958) USA – Symphonie pour orgue, Second Symphony Barnes studied with d'Indy and Vierne, and was an organist in Philadelphia and Santa Monica. Both works show a debt to the style of Vierne, and are very well crafted. The Symphonies were published by G. Schirmer. Simon Nieminski has released a CD recording of the works on the Pro Organo label (CD 7131). Beaulieu, Edith – (b. 1961) CAN – 1re Symphonie. Beaulieu's 50-minute work sounds like it could be Vierne's 7 th Symphonie. It is published by Éditions La Dulciane in Quebec, Canada. The composer has also made a recording of the work. Bjerno, E.D. – (b.1929) DEN – Via Purgativa: Organ Symphonie, Organ Symphony No. 2, Organ Symphony No. 3 Björklund, Steffan – (b. 1944) SW – Organ Symphony “Nirvana” Blin, René – (1884-1951) FR – Symphonie in Bb-minor. Blin was organist at Ste. Elizabeth in Paris. His substantial work (over 60 pages in length!) was published by Pitault. As far as I know, it is no longer in print, nor has a modern recording been made. The movements are: 1 – Toccata et Fugue, 2 – Adagio, 3 – Pastorale, 4 – Final. Bonnal, Joseph – (1880-1944) FR – Symphonie “Media Vita”. Bonnal was a student of Guilmant, and became the organist first of Saint-Médard, then at NotreDame de Boulogne sur Seine. He was also the Director of the Bayonne Conservatoire. His Symphonie won 1st prize of the “Amis de l'Orgue” in 1932. Its themes are all derived from Gregorian chant, and there is a lyric quotation at the beginning of each movement.
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1.
Assez lent, Calme, 1er Mouvt. (“In the midst of life we are in death. What help shall we seek if it is not from you, Lord, who for our sins is so rightly angered?”)
2.
Lent, Calme, Vif, 1er Mouvt. (“Holy and forgiving Savior, do not leave us to the bitterness of death. In Thee have our fathers trusted; they have trusted and Thou hast delivered them.”)
The Organ Symphonie 3.
Animé, Librement, Mouvt. Du début, Large (“To Thee our fathers cried, and they were not confounded Holy Lord, all-powerful Lord, do not leave us to the bitterness of death.”)
The Symphonie is published by Leduc, and there is a recording by Jean-Pierre Lecaudey from Pavane Records (ADW 7357) Boulnois, Michel – (b. 1907) FR – Symphonie. Michel Boulnois was organist of St. Phillipe-du-Roule in Paris, he was a student of Dupré. The Symphonie was published in 1944 by Leduc and is still available. I have not found a recording. Bourdon, Emile – (1884-1974) FR – Symphonie, op. 10. Bourdon was organist of Monaco Cathedral for nearly 50 years. He studied with Vierne and was his assistant. The 5 movement Symphonie was published by Leduc. There is no available recording, and I believe the work recently went out of print. Bourgeois, Derek – (b. 1941) ENG – Symphony, Op. 48, 1975. Bourgeois studied with Howells and directed music at St. Paul's Girls' School. The Symphony is selfpublished and available from the Composer, who has retired in Mallorca. The 3 Movements are titled 1 – Conflicts, 2 – Burlesque (quotes “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”) and 3 – Passacaglia di Fibonacci. Briggs, David – (b. 1962) ENG – Organ Symphony on Themes from the 'Missa pro defunctiis' In 1947 Maurice Duruflé was approached by his publisher, Durand, with a commission for a choral setting of the Requiem Mass. By chance he was already working on sketches for a suite of organ pieces based on the plainsong ‘Missa pro defunctis’. Work on the suite had not progressed far, and only one or two movements - particularly the ‘Sanctus’ and ‘Libera me’ – were beginning to take shape. Material from these sketches was apparently diverted to use in the new commission, and although (or perhaps because) the Requiem turned out to be a masterpiece, Duruflé never – as far as we know – returned to his original concept of a plainsong-based suite for organ. The sketches are presumed lost or destroyed. The idea of a ‘lost’ work by Duruflé is of course a tantalizing one, and in 2003 Stephen Farr commissioned David Briggs to compose as ‘hommage’, rather than pastiche, the organ work that Duruflé had, as it were, abandoned. In seven movements, the new Symphony requires a colorful and resourceful instrument able to supply the full range of romantic French sonorities. It was completed in January 2004 and received its world premiere in the St David’s Festival in June of the same year. The mood of the music in the first movement of the work is generally sombre. The opening bars of the ‘Prélude’ bear a passing resemblance to the ‘Prélude’ of Vierne’s 4th symphony, with its pedal theme under an octave ostinato; a gradual crescendo engendered by the repetition of motifs derived from the plainsong theme leads to a central climax in Eb minor, ‘Lent et puissant’. The opening bars are heard again, and although a new demisemiquaver (32nd note) figure briefly generates new momentum over a striding pedal figure the movement eventually closes quietly in F major. 3
The Organ Symphonie The second movement, ‘Kyrie’ is an Arioso, ‘Tres lent et legato’; against slow chromatic progressions, the Clarinette introduces the plainsong ‘en taille’. Energy accumulates steadily through the movement, until a rising choral passage is suddenly interrupted. In the closing moments the Pedal Fonds and Flûte 8 play the plainsong against evocative harmonies on the Célestes. An Intermezzo, ‘Domine Jesu Christe’ follows - a scherzo for the Flûtes, against whose rapid passagework the Basson and Chalumeau state fragments of plainsong. After a quiet close the centerpiece of the symphony, the Toccata, introduces a new note of aggression, its rapid pedal scales and chordal outbursts leading without a break to the ‘Dies irae’ Agité. Marked ‘Lourdement et tres aggressif’, this movement is a close relative of the ‘Crucifixion’ movement from Dupré’s ‘Symphonie Passion’, its constant offbeat figures on the tutti generating a central climax which eventually subsides to a restless conclusion, reminiscent of the opening bars of the Symphony. The ensuing Adagio – ‘Sanctus’ – takes as its starting point the harmonic structure of Duruflé’s own setting in the ‘Requiem’, moving into unexpected harmonic territory before the solo Hautbois introduces the closing pages of the movement. The music gradually dissipates as a single flute line descends from top to bottom of the keyboard. The final movement - ‘Lux aeterna & In Paradisum’ - is characterized by swinging carillon figures; chamades state the plainsong ‘en taille’ in the pedal against the Grand Plein Jeu in the classical manner. The music reaches a tremendous climax before a gradual diminuendo leads to the closing moments of the piece. Bourdon and Nazard play phrases from the plainsong against an expressive harmonic background before the Symphony concludes quietly in C major. (kind thanks to David Briggs for permission to use his program notes) The Symphony is available from Chesnut Music, and a CD recording has been made by Stephen Farr on the Lammas label (LAMM189) Brindle, R.S. – (1917-2003) – ENG – Organ Symphony, 1979. Brindle was a composer and professor of music at Surrey University. He studied with Luigi Dallapiccola, Ildebrando Pizzetti and Bruno Bartolozzi. The Symphony was published by Oecemuse, I've not heard if it has been taken up by any other firm since the demise of that company, and I know of no recording of the work.
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The Organ Symphonie
C Cochereau, Pierre – (1924-1984) FR Symphonie pour Orgue. Cochereau was a student of Dupré, and organist at Notre-Dame de Paris. He was one of the most talented improvisers of the 20th century, and improvised numerous Organ Symphonies in the course of many years of concertizing, but wrote down only one. Several of the improvised works have been transcribed from recordings, however. The Symphonie is in 4 movements 1-Adagio et Allegro; 2-Adagio; 3-Scherzando; 4Allegro (Final). The harmonic language is very consistent with his improvised works, and the Symphonie is a fine (but difficult) work. The piece is published by Editions Chantraine and there is a recording by John Scott Whiteley at Saint-Ouen on the Priory label (PRCD 619).
D Demuth, Norman – (1898-1968) ENG Symphony, 1957. Desbonnet, Germain – (1938-2007) FR 7 Symphonies (all unpublished). Desbonnet was a student of Jean Langlais, a prolific composer and gifted organist.
Symphonie “Apocalypse” selon Saint Jean (1976) 5 movements - 61' - 65' 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Le trône de la Majesté Divine 17' Le 5e Sceau (Toccata pour les martyrs) 4'45 Le 6e Sceau 11'30 - 13'30 Les six premières trompettes 20' - 21'30 La 7e trompette 8'30 (Lecture d'extraits de l'Apocalypse selon Saint Jean facultative)
Symphonie Christique (1985) 5 movements - 84' 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
La bataille d'Harmaguédon 22' Détresse de l'humanité 22' Les Êtres de Lumière "Alleluia des Anges" 12' Celui qui vient 18' La Grande Invocation* 10' a. *version pour chœur & orgue b. *version pour orgue seul c. *version pour soprano & orgue
Symphonie “Poeme Cosmique” (1986) 4 movements - 60' 1. Les sphères planétaires 14' 5
