DE GRIGNY (et al.?)
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,415
    The December The American Organist arrived today. It is normally lackluster (to say the most) in its articles and offerings of academic interest, but this issue announces an exciting new edition of great interest to scholars and performers of French baroque literature, particularly the music of Nicolas de Grigny.

    A new edition of his 1699 Livre d'Orgue (office hymns and mass) is now available, published by Wayne Leupold Editions. It is a critical edition which includes references to both Bach's and Walther's hand-made copies of the original edition - which original is plagued by misprints and such. Included are extensive notes on performance practice, contemporary liturgy, and the liturgical use of this music. There is a fine review of Leupold's edition on pp. 80-81 of December's The American Organist.

    Of equal interest is David Ponsford's magisterial work, French Organ Music in the Reign of Louis XIV. Treated are all the genres of the French organ mass and their relationship to continent-wide non-liturgical genres of their time. Published by Cambridge UP, this book will prove invaluable to all who love the late renaissance and baroque French organ literature.

    I recommend highly both publications.

    (Others may post other new publications of note.)

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    Also, there is a new internet site called Vox Humana, which is under the aegis of The American Organist. Anyone can access this site for free. Go to voxhumanajournal.com for a variety of articles about organists, organ builders, church music, and so forth. The articles change every fortnight or so. The editor is Chris Holman, a specialist in early music who recently completed his DMA under Robert Bates here at the UofH. Featured at the moment are very informative interviews of Ken Cowan and Martin Pasi.

    Thanked by 3CharlesW JonLaird Antonio
  • CharlesW
    Posts: 11,982
    French Organ Music in the Reign of Louis XIV.


    Just bought it. There are 4 copies left on Amazon - paperback, the hardcover is way too expensive. The paperback is reasonably priced. I will look at the de Grigny next month after the Christmas madness is over.

    Jackson, you know you are adding to my book addiction and overflowing book shelves. Don't encourage me. LOL.
    Thanked by 1M. Jackson Osborn
  • ghmus7
    Posts: 1,483
    Well the classic book in this area is The Language of the French Classical Organ:
    Fenner Douglas.
    Thanked by 3M. Jackson Osborn CHGiffen Antonio
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,415
    I have Douglas, Greg. While Douglas' treatment is primarily of the organ itself, Ponsford's book treats of the music. I would highly commend it to you. He discusses each genre, recits, duos, trios, basse et dessus, plein jeu, grand jeu, en taille, and on and on, in great detail, analysing pertinent examples from pertinent composers' works, comparing them to secular forms, including dance forms, rhythm, long-short and short-long inegale vs. non-inegale, and all other characteristics of this music, plus influences from as far afield as Frescobaldi and Froberger, and others. There hasn't been a book like it, so invaluable a treatment of each genre within this literature. It is a 'must have'.
    Thanked by 2CHGiffen CharlesW
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