Cochereau plays Dupré Prelude & Fugue Op.7 No. 1

[TheMysticalOrgan]

Unashamedly show-offish, but very musical nevertheless. Anything more would be painfully overdone. My favourite version on YouTube is Tobias Frank's - a bit less in your face and a bit more musical to my ears!

[MegaDani141]

3:39 there is something not right.....

Is it cuttet?

[MarkBenjaminDancer]

@MegaDani141 No, it's not cut, just a change of manual.

[MegaDani141]

@MarkBenjaminDancer so fast and without mistakes?!?!?! WOW

[bellringer97]

great music.

[sirMEGADACTYL]

I have this CD! I learned this work because of it. I consider this performance the best on the planet, hands down. I love the effect of the sound meeting itself in that wonderful acoustic! I hear the work quite clearly and it is most musical, indeed!

In my opinion, this tempo works best in this acoustic. In a dry room it would sound bloody mechanical. It's the wall of sound meeting itself that creates the excitement! Bravo PC, Mon héros!!!

[originaltommy]

I really feel that PC felt this music, and it's clear. You can't fake a dynamic, fiery performance. You just can't. But I think Dupre would have been very clear with PC and said, sure, okay, if you want to do this, do that, fine. As a result not only has Dupre left us a staggering legacy, so has Cochereau. This entire Dupre recording is probably one of the finest organ recordings in history. The Passion Symphony is cataclysmic. Resurrection will have your hair standing on end.

[MegaDani141]

GENAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



[sailormann1]

Agree with Willowthebored: the chamades (and upperwork in general) are brighter than the Caribbean sun. Great piece, but en chamades and mixtures grate on the ears.

[willowthebored]

I really don't like this take on the prelude. I understand that it has to be fast, but it's at a tempo where it starts to feel syncopated when it really shouldn't, and, as Melos so truthfully points out below, this is NDdP we're talking about here. That's too fast for so much reverb. Also, the chamades are grating when he throws them on; they come out of the blue and club me over the head.

That said, it is impressive that he can play that at this tempo at all, and the fugue is well-presented.

[MelosAntropon]

The Fugue: Magnificent! A high watermark interpretation of this classic, and *especially* well played considering the Notre-Dame acoustic.

The Prelude: TOO. DAMNED. FAST. And again, considering the Notre-Dame acoustic. There is tremendous beauty in the prelude. It is lost here in the tripping-over-itself rush of sound. In an incredibly dead room, this interpetation of the Prelude would be electrifying. In Notre-Dame, it's sonic hash.

[karlakor]

There are several comments about the tempo of this performance, but there is not just one tempo. It varies significantly throughout the prelude. After the initial burst of speed, it settles down around 0:38 and then slows further, never again to attain the initial tempo. It is good to hear the tempo bend according to the moods and textures of the piece. I particularly like the tempo of the fugue.

[originaltommy]

5:52 sets me on fire. He's not afraid to articulate it in an almost toccata-like fashion after the legato sections that preceded it. Absolutely dazzling in every respect. Clearly as well, the combination action still worked at that particular point in time. This is absolutely my FAVOURITE recording EVER of ANYONE playing ANYTHING. I discovered this in 1981 when I was 10 years old and it changed my life forever. That has not changed in nearly 30 years. Nothing can match this recording!!!!!!!

[ds1868]

@originaltommy Yes I have the Solstice CD of this recording. Obviously with a good player/headphones etc the reproduction is better. The rendition of this piece by PC is incredible - and it will never be matched.

[WINCHANDLE]

Though PC's rendition of this is the first I heard, I think it is the best. Other interpretations do not have his clear phrasing.  The tempo is NOT too fast, I'd almost call it andante esp in the fugue, whose phrasing and melody is sweet and refreshing. Esp the syncopated rhythm toward the end.

[marcdub2004]

Again..... Its definately NOT too fast. Cochereau discussed it personally with Dupré and Dupré was ABSOLUTELY convinced that THIS is the "àTempo" for his work on this organ. So , say that for your taste its too fast... but stop professing how fast or slow anybody should play this piece... Its interpretated in a brillantly coherent way like lots of musicians even aren't by far able to do!

[ds1868]

@marcdub2004 Yes I believe he discussed his plans for tempo and registration with Marcel Dupre just before a performance in NDdeP. As you say Dupre completely concurred with PCs interpretation, and was thoroughly pleased when he heard the performance himself in the Cathedral. PC reproduced the performance on this CD recording, and what an amazing recording it is!

[organum74]

Sorry, not my favourite interpretation, too fast, as Cochereau used to play.

I prefer, far away, Daniel Roth , Choplin or Van Oosten !

[eerse078]

allegro fiasco

[ds1868]

Yes he's playing it at the right tempo. The fact that virtually no one else on the planet before or since can play this piece like this is another question......

[JFSnail]

This is my favourite interpretation of this piece - Cochereau breathes so much life into this work!