Charles Tournemire: Douze Préludes-Poèmes, Op. 58 - for piano - PART 1

French composer Charles Tournemire (1870 - 1939) is widely known in the organ world as a master improvisor and composer of unique and sometimes challenging organ music.

But he is almost completely unknown to pianists, despite having written numerous pieces for the instrument.

His 'Douze Préludes-Poèmes' of 1932 are perhaps considered the crowning achievement of his works for the medium and display an enigmatic style which nods at Debussy and the impressionists whilst anticipating the structural and phrasing patterns, as well as the soundworld, of Messiaen.

This set of pieces, loosely put, traces the physical, emotional and spiritual journey of man from birth to death, and the sense of a journey comes across well, in so much as they would not sit quite as well as individual recital pieces.

This is the first piece in the set and is called 'Naissance de l'homme' - 'Birth of man' and shows Tournemire's use short phrasings of rich harmony and poignant lyricism to great effect. The sound of unearthly tolling bells are a feature of this music and occur in several of the pieces in the set.

Pieces 6, 7 and 12 to follow.

Enjoy!


Piano: Lise Boucher

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Charles
• Tournemire;
• piano;
• organ;
• douze
• preludes
• poemes;
• French
• composers;
• lise
• boucher;
• pianist;
• organist;
• Marcel
• Dupré;
• Olivier
• Messiaen;
• Jehan
• Alain;
• Claude
• Debussy;
• Georges
• Migot;
• Marco
• Lo
• Muscio;
• Delvallée;
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• Sulpice;
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• Widor;
• Vierne;
• Franck;
• Alkan;
• Scriabin;
• Busoni;
• bells;
• l'orgue
• mystique

[gerardbedecarter]

Thanks for uploading!

[4candles]

@gerardbedecarter My pleasure - this set of pieces is one of my favourite in the piano literature.

[deodatdechampignac]

@4candles - thanks for posting ; but it is a pity you did not put n°8 on line - this is the easiest and nicest of the pieces, one of the best pieces of 20century, according to me ; something close to intermezzo, sonata 12, of Feinberg - another 20 century piano masterpiece

[4candles]

@deodatdechampignac Thanks for your comment. I'll go against my normal judgement and post no.8 for you :)

[yaarge2]

Thanks for posting *****

[4candles]

@yaarge2 Thanks for your enthusiasm! The music is definitely 5* in quality :)

[4candles]

@MrAdrianGunning I agree! Thank you for your comment.

[MrAdrianGunning]

Wonderful, wonderful music...

[4candles]

Lise Boucher - I think she is a Canadian artist.

[firesong75]

Who is the very fine pianist?