Louis Vierne Final Recital
  • Nathan_the_Organist
    Posts: 434
    I'm wondering if anyone would have the answer to something I've been wondering for a while. I'm assuming most on here know the tragic (but quite epic) story of Louis Vierne's death. Does anyone know what the program was for the first half of that recital? All I've ever found is that he played his own works.
  • Andrew_Malton
    Posts: 1,156
    See Louis Vierne: Organist of Notre-Dame Cathedral, pl. 148.
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    Thanked by 3Richard Mix CHGiffen Nathan_the_Organist
  • Richard MixRichard Mix
    Posts: 2,767
    Really interesting program annotating! This puts the style Messiaen's remarks in a new context.
  • Nathan_the_Organist
    Posts: 434
    Andrew, just to make sure I am reading this correctly: Vierne was going to play Roman numerals I and II, the Durufle would play III and IV? Vierne would have died after I but before II?

    Edit: My French is quite nonexistent. I'm inferring not reading the notes or markings.
  • Andrew_Malton
    Posts: 1,156
    Yes, that is what it means.

    The annotator Jean Fellot (1905-1967) was also a French organist of note, and was a young colleague of Vierne at the Schola at the time of Vierne’s death. According to this.

    (Full disclosure: I'd heard of Vierne and his early death, but everything else was Googled today.)
  • ServiamScores
    Posts: 2,721
    I speak French; you have it correct. The program was divided between Vierne (I & II) and Duruflé playing Vierne (III & IV).
  • Nathan_the_Organist
    Posts: 434
    Thank you guys. It never ceases to amaze me that there is always someone on here with the answer or who knows where to look.

    I didn't know that Durufle was actually supposed to play the second half of the recital. I knew he was in the loft when Vierne died, but I had thought that he was just up there to assist. Would I be correct to assume that the second half did not happen as planned?
  • ServiamScores
    Posts: 2,721
    The nugget about Duruflé was actually new to me. I have no idea if the recital continued or not. (I suspect not.)
    Thanked by 1Nathan_the_Organist
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