Jehan Alain - Complete Works for Organ, Vol. 1 (Marie-Claire Alain)

Information

Composer: Jehan Alain

1. Litanies, JA 119
2. Variations sur un theme de Clément Jannequin, JA 118
3. Première fantaisie, JA 72
4. Deuxième fantaisie, JA 117
5. Suite pour orgue: I. Introduction et variations, JA 69
6. Suite pour orgue: II. Scherzo, JA 70
7. Suite pour orgue: III. Choral, JA 82
8. Deux danses à Agni Yavishta, JA 77, 78
9. Petite pièce, JA 33
10. Choral dorien, JA 67
11. Choral phrygien, JA 68
12. Variation sur 'Lucis Creator', JA 27
13. Prélude et fugue, JA 75, 57
14. Première prélude 'Wieder an', JA 64
15. Deuxième prélude 'Und jetzt', JA 65
16. Trois minutes: I. Un cercle d'argent, JA 30
17. Trois minutes: II. Romance, JA 31
18. Trois minutes: III. Grave, JA 32

Marie-Claire Alain, organ

Date: 2000

Label: Erato

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Review

Marie-Claire Alain's tireless advocacy for her brother's work has rescued many of his compositions from obscurity. The first of two volumes of Jehan Alain's complete organ works is of special interest not only for its luminous and authoritative performances of seldom heard works, but also for the use of one of Alain's preferred instruments. The restored organ in the Basilica of Saint-Ferjeux, employing a registration familiar to the composer, gives these works a freshness that makes them sound revitalized. The justly famous Litanies heads the track list, and Marie-Claire Alain offers an interpretation with fluidity and focused energy. Of the works that follow, the Suite, Op. 48, stands out as a major composition, a striking example of Alain's use of constantly shifting modes and his search for dynamic expression through this technique. The Danses à Agni Yavishta introduce Alain's Eastern influences, a source of inspiration he shared with Messiaen, particularly in the use of Indian additive rhythms. The Prelude et Fugue is another highlight, showing Alain's mastery of vivid organ sonorities and skill at writing chromatic counterpoint. Aside from background noises in the church and the instrument's mechanisms, the recording is fine. The organ's sound is gloriously enhanced by the building's live acoustics.

— Blair Sanderson

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Jehan Alain (3 February 1911 – 20 June 1940) was a French composer and organist. Born into a distinguished musical family, he trained at the Paris Conservatory under renowned teachers such as Paul Dukas, Jean Roger-Ducasse and Marcel Dupré. In 1936, his Suite pour orgue won the Amis de l'Orgue competition, and he became the titular organist of Saint Nicolas in Maisons-Laffitte. Despite his short life, Alain composed around 140 works for various genres, with Litanies remaining one of his most celebrated organ compositions. Mobilized during World War II, he was killed in action while defending Saumur at the age of 29.

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Marie-Claire Alain (10 August 1926 – 26 February 2013) was a French organist, scholar and teacher. She was the sister of the famous organist-composers Jehan Alain. Marie-Claire Alain was commonly deemed one of the most illustrious organists of her generation, and bore an international reputation. Her prolific recording career includes 260 recordings, making her the most-recorded classical organist in the world. She was a specialist in Bach, making three recordings of his complete organ works, as well as French organ music. Alain taught at the conservatory of Rueil-Malmaison and the Paris Conservatory.

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