Marcel Dupré : Cortège et Litanie , Op. 19 No. 2 ( from 'Quatre Pièces' )

Marcel Dupré (1886-1971) was one of the foremost French organ recitalists and composer of organ music of the 20th century. He was also a pianist, and wrote several works for piano and organ which he performed on organ with his pianist daughter. His 'Quatre Pièces' of 1921 derived fromsome orchestral incidental music. The piano solo versions of the pieces were published in 1923, and dedicated to Clara Haskil. The 'Cortège et Litanie' was subsequently arranged firstly for organ, and then for organ and orchestra. Dupré premiered both organ versions himself in 1923 and 1925 respectively, on the 'biggest organ in the world' at Wanamaker's department store in New York. Certainly the massive chordal writing in the piece probably demands performance on a Bösendorfer Imperial in a giant hall, but I hope my domestic instrument and limited recording facilities give viewers a feel for how this work goes. I am using a recent edition prepared by http://www.crescendomusicpubs.co.au .
In his book on Dupré's organ works, Graham Steed suggests that with its repeated prayer motif in the Litanie section, this piece is perhaps Dupré's ecclesiastical equivalent of Ravel's Bolero!
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Played by Phillip Sear
http://www.psear.co.uk

Category:

Music

Tags:

• piano
• classical
• French
• France

[Blockedify]

My comments come from the heart. Now I want to go back and study this again, at the piano, which I did MANY years ago. Most interesting how you get many different tonal qualities out of the piano, and its being rather muffled, too. I'm frankly rather envious. DRAT!!!

[PSearPianist]

@Blockedify Thanks. Since I did this recording I have changed my video editing procedures, so hopefully the sound on most of my recent videos is a bit brighter!

[Blockedify]

This ONLY goes to prove, as I've maintained for some years, that EVERY ORGANIST who tries to play this piece should, by universal law, be required to learn the piano version before attempting it at the organ. That might go a LONG WAY towards eleminating some of the ghastly performance that are drecked out. And that includes MOST ALL of them.

It's a far different piece when played at the paino.

[PSearPianist]

@Blockedify Thanks for that most interesting comment!

[MaitreyaRishi]

I wish I could have sheet music of this piece

[PSearPianist]

@MaitreyaRishi It is in copyright but I will send you a message about where you can buy it.

[PSearPianist]

@TheKingJacob1 Who knows? - maybe you could!

[TheKingJacob1]

My lord, if i could play this.

[organ444]

Yes, Dupre wrote "cortege et litanie" as part of a suite of incidental music to a friends opera. He then transcribed it for piano, organ and organ and orchestra (in that order). I tried to learn "Cortege et Litanie" only my hands aren't big enough!