From: "alexander inglis" <alexander.inglis@canrem.com>
Subject: music of jehan alain
Reply-To: "alexander inglis" <alexander.inglis@canrem.com>
Organization: Canada Remote Systems
Distribution: rec
Date: 4 Jan 93 14:58:19 EST

MJV>Of related interest, I'd also like to recommend an album of organ music be
   >Jehan Alain, performed by Marie-Claire Alain.  I have this on an Erato cass
   >recorded in 1972.  I don't know whether or not it was ever released on CD. 
   >cassette is Erato MCE 15555.  The album contains:

MJV>              Intermezzo (1935)
   >              Suite pour Orgue (1934-1936)
   >              Le Jardin Suspendu (1934)
   >              Litanies (1937)
   >              Trois Danses (1937-1939)

When I think of organ music, Bach, Buxtehude, Sweelinck and Alain come
to mind, and in that order. I have long admired the artistry of
Marie-Claire Alain, particularly in Bach and Buxtehude. Quite some time
ago ... hmmmm ... the mid-70s? ... M-C Alain came to town and gave a
mixed recital of regular organ fare but included some of her (late)
brother's music, probably the Litanies or Trois danses. I listen to a
LOT of music over the course of a year on LP/CD and attend perhaps three
dozen concerts so the fact that I even remember *hearing* M-C Alain
speaks volumes for this particular concert's merits. To close the
recital, she was given a sealed envelope with a short tune. She played
the notes once, slowly, paused for perhaps 45 seconds and then created
variations on this for several minutes. It was one of the most
astounding things I've heard live.

This led to an interest in her brother's music. Erato, distributed here
Erraticly, released a three disc (LPs) compilation of his music in it's
L'Encyclopedia de l'orgue series (EDO 250/252), recorded in 1974. About
half of this recording has been reissued on CD as ECD 88194. The
remaining material would fit comfortably on a second CD. In addition to
the cassette contents above, the current CD also includes Variations sur
un theme de Clement Janequin (1936) and Deuxieme fantaisie (1936).
This CD was deleted in these parts about a year ago but might well still
be available elsewhere.

Jehan-Ariste Alain was born February, 1911 and died (as a French
soldier?) in June, 1940. He was 15 years senior to sister M-C. He
studied with Marcel Dupre, Paul Dukas and Roger Ducasse. His talent was
well recognized in his day but his early death ended his career before
he had a chance to savour much success. His extant music was written
throughout the 1930s, a time of chronic ill health for him.

M-C states: "I think that to play Jehan Alain's music faithfully, one
must play it above all naturally, remembering that it was all written by
a young man between tthe ages of 18 and 28. The music of nature is
rhythm, song and dancing. It gets faster at an emotional point and slows
down in meditation. Its rhythm is the rhythm of the beating of the
heart, which, it must be remembered, does not always beat as regularly
as a metronome. Rather than a stiff attempt to reconstitute the
composer's intentions I would recommend a young organist to let himself
be swept away by enthusiasm or by the mood of the piece."

Recommended to all who enjoy organ music in large *and* small doses.
These are treasures, indeed.

Alexander Inglis  |  InterNet: alexander.inglis@canrem.com
Toronto,  Canada  |  CompuServe: 70307,20     BIX: ainglis
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