Jehan Alain - Complete Works for Organ, Vol. 2 (Marie-Claire Alain)

Information

Composer: Jehan Alain

1. Trois danses, JA 120: I. Joies
2. Trois danses, JA 120: II. Deuils (Danse funèbre pour honorer une mémoire héroïque)
3. Trois danses, JA 120: III. Luttes
4. Postlude pour l'office de complies, JA 29
5. Choral cistercien, JA 132
6. Complainte à la mode ancienne, JA 38
7. Fugue en mode de fa, JA 28
8. Verset-Choral, JA 6
9. Intermezzo, JA 66 Bis
10. Ballade en mode phrygien, JA 9
11. Aria, JA 136
12. Le jardin suspendu, JA 71
13. Lamento, JA 14
14. Berceuse sur deux notes qui cornent, JA 7 Bis
15. Climat, JA 7 Bis
16. Monodie, JA 133
17. Andante, JA 89 Bis
18. Chant donné, JA 37
19. De Jules Lemaître, JA 62
20. Fantasmagorie (première version), JA 63

Marie-Claire Alain, organ

Date: 2001

Label: Erato

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Review

Were it not for his sister's careful research and exemplary performances of his music, Jehan Alain's fame might rest almost exclusively on his ecstatic toccata Litanies. Marie-Claire Alain has gathered every extant organ piece of his on two discs, and the composer's output is thus given its due. The second volume of Alain's complete organ works includes one piece that approaches Litanies in originality and color, the mysterious Danses. Well-known to organists, yet deserving of a much wider audience, this piece captures much of Alain's visionary character and offers insights into his elaborate compositional processes. Another highlight is Le jardin suspendu, an ethereal chaconne tinged with Alain's intensely personal mysticism. Also noteworthy is the odd and amusing Fantasmagorie, which receives its premiere recording here. Marie-Claire Alain performs on three different instruments familiar to the composer: two church organs he played or heard, and the Alain family organ constructed by their father Albert. In a real sense, then, an authentic approach to the works' registrations and performance practice is personalized through the organist's attention to every detail. As on the first volume, there are occasional noisy distractions from the organ's mechanical action, but the recorded sound quality is otherwise exceptional.

— 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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