Louis Vierne Filmed at Notre Dame de Paris

A very rare "short" film of Louis Vierne performing JS Bach's In Dir Ist Freude (In Thee is Joy, BWV 615) on the Grandes Orgues of Notre Dame de Paris. This is perhaps the only known film of Vierne performing. It was part of a 1934 newsreel entitled "Les Mains de Paris" about artists in Paris. Vierne likely welcomed this video since it is also around this time that he was trying to raise money to repair the organ. What is very apparent is Master Vierne's complete lack of extraneous movement during the performance -- a characteristic of the French organ tradition. Although the sound is not well synchronized, it seems that he is indeed playing the In Dir Ist Freude, although some viewers may disagree. Nevertheless, the sound of the organ and performance do indicate that Vierne at Notre Dame is heard in the audio track.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• vierne
• organ
• notre
• dame

[gerardbedecarter]

Thanks very much for posting this footage. I hope that the Vierne console will be reinstated one day and the organ restored to its former unmutilated glory.

[BeFrSc]

it was with a large pencil lol

[choirsinger123]

Wow- Just sang Vierne's "Kyrie Eleison" this morning at church-tough piece,but effective-very "Phantom of the Opera" organ!

[1JeanDeaux]

Thank you.

[Peronter77]

great job

[Sathrandur]

Definately the In Dir Ist Freude. I love this piece. An absolute delight to listen to and to play.

[HERIBERTO37ify]

Que grabacion tan bella y documental tan fascinante. Saludos.

[christianvs1]

@GeoffreySimonOnline Gosh.....indeed! Too much style and not enough historical tradition; but then the Americas are only 400-500yrs old. On the other hand one could say that they haven't leant much from us in Europe!

[GeoffreySimonOnline]

@christianvs1 There is a good reason why many American organists choose such fast tempi: American churches are notorious for having poor acoustics. The average European church is not afflicted with such sound-destroying accoutrements as carpet and acoustical tile. American architects show little understanding of what makes for good acoustics for choirs, organs, and/or congregational singing.

[EccentricRichard]

@MusicPredominates - no, I'm not... well, I'm not studying anything at the moment! Sixth form college didn't really work out...

[MusicPredominates]

@EccentricRichard : Thanks Richard. Are you not studying chemistry ?