Jean Langlais @ Ste. Clotilde Paris Pipe Organ (2)

Part 2 of Jean Langlais' Fantaisie on B-A-C-H, recorded by the composer himself in 1980.
I've had to make a few judicious cuts to squeeze this piece into 2 10-minute segments.
The latest stoplist I have of the Ste. Clotilde organ says it's a III/61/74. But the photo of the new mobile console in the video shows, as you can see, 4 manuals. I don't know what the extra manual is for (maybe new Bombarde reeds?)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• pipe
• organ
• orgue
• orgel
• Paris
• Langlais
• Bach

[andretchaikowskycom]

I knew Langlais a bit, visited at 26 Rue Duroc several times in the 1970s when my cousin was one of his students. This is an amazing improvisation and I'm reminded of another, after the world premiere of his Solemn Mass, an improvisation on the Lourdes Hymn, and a recording is still out there on the Christ in Majesty LP and maybe a CD now. I was at one of his recording sessions of improvisations and his assistant tapped him on the shoulder when he should finish up in 60 seconds.

[a55b47]

@andretchaikowskycom Thanks for the information. I'm always amazed at the tidbits of history that pop up on YouTube from the most diverse places.

[organum74]

One of the most beautiful organ in the world !

Maybe it does not sound so good here, but this organ is a real treasure !

I have been a Jean Langlais's student, he was a great, great organist, for ever !

[a55b47]

Jean Langlais -- one of my favorite composers.

[gerardbedecarter]

Ste Clothilde is a magnificent Basilica and the Cavaille-Coll/Cesar Franck organ is the most beautifully harmonised instrument anywhere. Its Trompette and 32 foot stops are incredible. I hope that one day the organ will be provided with a rebuilt console and stripped of additions to bring it back to the instrument that Franck knew. I studied Cesar Franck's organ works at Ste Clothilde with Jean Langlais in 1980 but unfortunately I am not familar with Langlais' compositions.

[arkaisk2]

Nothing but a gem. Tell me one musician today that can improvise like this. I hope more people get to know Langlais and his music, it´s so much better than most of our contemporary music. Here´s nerve, drama, passion.

[Silverdaddy101]

@voixhumaine

The year was 1973, as I recall.

As for being impossible, , all I can tell you is you had to be there. He was not a teacher for the faint hearted.

[voixhumaine]

@Silverdaddy101 May I ask 2 quesitons? 1) What do you mean by "impossible" exactly? And 2) How did you manage to study with him.. as your page pretends you are 19 years old, and Langlais died in 1991 ! ;) Just teasing...

[voixhumaine]

An advise : take time to listen to this piece twice, or thrice, and decompose every note. Then think it came from an improvisation, ...

Ultimate Langlais, yes, I think so...

[voixhumaine]

Langlais is one my favourite composers, together with Alain, Duruflé, Messiaen and .. (in a complete opposite style), Vierne. Dupré on top of that, to supervise the technique! ;)

Every time I play him, I try to put myself into the skin of a blind organist, whose only expression means was music. Because of that, Langlais reached, in my opinion, a kind of perfection. Playing him properly requires a lot of effort.. And derhaps would I qualify this piece as "ultimate Langlais" , I don't know...

[Silverdaddy101]

I, too, studied with Langlais. A spellbinding technician and improviseur, but he could be impossible , at times. The world would be the poorer with out him and his artistry.

[Lussa92]

@horses1

grazie m°langlais da queste improvvisazioni è nato e sviluppato in me il senso più

profondo della spiritualità contemporanea unitamente alle sue composizioni collegate a quelle del m° O.Messiaen. luigi