I have enjoyed reading many threads here, and I am obviously in the presence of some fine musicians.
I have my spreadsheets out and am in the throes of music planning for the upcoming Labor Day-through-June 'program year.' I am looking to provide my congregation with a better representative sampling of late 19th/20th century French organ music. Currently my repertoire heavily favors German and British composers, with a smattering of contemporary Americans, and some French Baroque pieces (although probably not enough!). The Post-Baroque French is repertory that I do not know well—I have a passing familiarity with a few of the best-known pieces, but that's about it. Would anyone care to recommend some pieces?
In terms of parameters: Postludes 4—8 minutes (occasional shorter piece won't get me fired), preludes 2—6 or thereabouts. In terms of 'degree of scariness,' I'm not shy about challenging my congregation, but I try to strategically pick my spots! I think something like the Dupre toccata on Placare, Christe servulis would go over pretty well—thought about it, but decided to do something else on All Saints this year—however something like the Langlais Te Deum might be a bridge too far. I do play the Dupre Preludes opus 59 and 'Angelus,' Messiaen's Banquet Celeste (they don't seem to mind!), and I am introducing some Tournemire this year (some quiet preludes). The Widor toccata makes it's occasional appearance, but currently that's about it. Lots of Bach.
The organ lacks most French 'specialty' ranks, so no vox humana, but a very nice French Trompette on the Swell; and I generally manage (I hope) to make the organ work in a variety of rep. Really, it's quite a nice little instrument.
Dupre: Eight Short Preludes on Gregorian Themes, Op. 45
[These are for manuals only]
I. Salve Regina II. Virgo Dei Genitrix III. Pange lingua IV. Sacris solemniis V. Alma Redemptoris Mater VI. Ave verum corpus VII. Lauda Sion VIII. Verbum supernum
Langlais: Suite Medievale
I. Prelude - Entree / Asperges me II. Tiento - Offertoire / Kyrie "Fons bonitatis" III. Improvisation - Elevation / Adoro te IV. Meditation - Communion / Ubi caritas & Jesu dulcis memoria V. Acclamations - Sur le texte des acclamations Carolingiennes / Christus vincit
Have you read the Charles tournemire book? If you haven't do. If you can't be bothered because TLDR issues then flip through it and you'll find lists and lists of suitable rep.
The reference to the Tournemire book is useful because it contains the 1984 article by Dr. Robert Lord. Dr. Lord annotated all the chants based on Tournemire's magnum opus, l'Orgue Mystique ( The Mystical Organ.) If you are looking for chants based music for the Sundays as given in the EF, this is wonderful music. The first 4 mvmts. in each suite are somewhat manageable ( there is a caveat in that statement), but the last mvmt. is usually quite demanding. Dr. Lord's article lists the chants for each Sunday and I do believe some have cross-referenced that list as it works in the OF also. Hope that will help you. Music from the "renouveau catholique" (circa 1920) often is chant based, though not always. You have had some good possibilities already offered, to which you might look at some 19th century works, such as Boellman's Suite Gothique and music by Eugene Gigout. And certainly look at Cesar Franck. The Cantabile and his collection l'Organiste are useful. Bonne chance et Amusez-vous.
I highly recommend the music of Dom Paul Benoit, O.S.B. When I discovered him about 6 years ago, it was a revelation that changed the way I think about liturgical organ music. I was still a recent college graduate at the time, having been trained primarily on Bach and the Lutheran chorale tradition. When I discovered the Gregorian chant tradition through the CMAA, I began seeking music that incorporated chant themes, but at first, all I had was the French Classical school and Alexandre Guilmant. I was aware of Tournemire's “l'Orgue Mystique,” and I loved the idea of it, but most of it was (and still is) too difficult for me (although I do play a couple of pieces from it and hope to play more someday.) I discovered Benoit purely by chance via a YouTube video. It's probably not fair to compare Benoit to Tournemire, but what they have in common is the use of Gregorian chant as the basis for their compositions. I've found most of Benoit's music to be quite accessible, beautiful, and interesting.
He published several collections of "elevations," short pieces (probably averaging about 2 minutes each) based on all of the Sanctus chants from the Kyriale. I play one of these at Mass almost every week, usually during Communion following the hymn. The three most significant collections are:
Fifty Elevations for Organ on Modal Themes (1948) Forty-One Elevations for Harmonium (1956) Sixty Devotional Pieces for Organ on Modal Themes (1959)
He also published a few books of longer works for the various seasons and feasts of the liturgical year:
Deux Fantaisies Pour Orgue (1946) Quatre Preludes pour Grand Orgue (1950) Pieces d'Orgue (1953) Esquisses Liturgiques Pour Grand Orgue (1963)
And several pieces published individually, including:
Noel Basque (1943) Suite Liturgique pour Paques (1949) Diptyque in honor of St. Therese (1955) Triptyque Pour Orgue (1969)
(There's quite a bit more, but that covers the majority of my collection.)
Now, if you're looking for "scary," you might consider his "Allegro Vivo a Maestoso" from the book "Esquisses Liturgiques," a French toccata with a pedal theme based on the Vespers hymn "Placare Christe servulis" for All Saints Day. Here's a recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWjJCxMopuE
Other specific pieces to consider might be his Prelude and Fugue on "Victimae Paschali Laudes," “Christ the King,” and "Jubilate Deo Omnis Terra," all found in "Pieces d'Orgue."
Then there's the "Triptyque," which is based on three themes from the Requiem Mass. It's one of his last published works, one of his longest, and, in my opinion, one of his finest. The final movement in particular, on the theme “In Paradisum,” is perhaps my favorite piece in the entire organ repertoire.
I don't know how much of Benoit's music is still in print, but used copies can often be found on Amazon and eBay.
Henri Mulet, Esquisses Byzantines, my favorite movements being "Nef," "Vitrail," and "Rosace" (not all organs can handle the latter), but "Tu es petra" being of course the most popular and probably only one suitable for postlude.
A "very nice French Trompette on the Swell" calls for Franck's Pastorale with storm. Two of the less-forbidding chant/birdsong based late pieces of Messiaen I really enjoyed learning are Le Dieu caché (LdSS) & Dieu est simple (MslMdlST), but if you want something for the trick-or-treaters there's only one obvious choice.
Thanks to all who have responded so far. The suggestions sound great—several composers were previously unknown to me, and for some the more familiar ones I now have some places to start. I apparently have some homework to do! I had already started to slowly make my may through L'Orgue Mystique—what wonderful stuff!
[...] late 19th/20th century French organ music. [...] Postludes 4—8 minutes [...] preludes 2—6 or thereabouts. [...] Chant/hymn/chorale based works are preferred.
I thought was a bit hard to play, sure. But it has a spooky, minor character that does sound dark. Several teenagers have told me they find it spooky, so I yield to their judgment. LOL. I won't be playing it for offertory next week - wait, is it presentation now, or usher shuffle, or deacon waddle?
Scary for the Organist or for the People? Scary in what way?
I stole the phrase from someone on this forum who abbreviated it "SFM", and I was using it sort of tongue-in-cheek to describe the sort of modernist French repertory that the average congregation might find challenging, although I am really deficient in French rep from the late 19th century on. I'll admit to not loving Franck, Widor, and Verne (heresy for an organist?), which partly explains the lack, but my congregation deserves to hear a full range of excellent liturgical organ music, so keep the suggestions coming!
Nothing scares me, however (even though, technically speaking, some things should probably scare me more than they do!). The only part of this repertoire that I am even fairly well acquainted with is Messiaen, which I love, and will be introducing a few new works to my congregation in the next year or so—I've only played Banquet Celeste thus far, which I felt was reasonably safe. So feel free to suggest a big piece or two that is liturgically appropriate and that you've had particular success with.
I might add that previous to my appointment a few years ago the church I serve had Yale organ scholars on two-year stints; one of my recent predecessors won a national hymn playing competition as an undergraduate, and another recently won the Longwood competition, so folks are reasonably sophisticated and standards and expectations around here are pretty high.
Actually, come to think of it. the folks have really enjoyed all the Bach over the last couple of years, with a palpable sort of sense of relief, almost, so maybe they have just come off a diet of "SFM!" I'll have to go through service bulletins and see exactly what my predecessors had been playing.
To participate in the discussions on Catholic church music, sign in or register as a forum member, The forum is a project of the Church Music Association of America.