Release Date: 12 January 2005
Label: Naxos - Nxc / Naxos Classics
Packaging Type: Jewel Case
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 747313261420
Genres: Classical
Composer/Series: GUILMANT, Felix-Alexandre
Description
Felix-Alexandre Guilmant (1837-1911): Organ WorksFelix-Alexandre Guilmant is considered, along withCharles-Marie Widor, as one of the founders of thenineteenth-century French Romantic school of organplaying.As a composer, editor, musicologist andpublisher he made significant contributions to the organrepertoire. His teaching led to a vast improvement in thetechnical abilities of organists as well as in the quality oforgan performance in general. He was a worldrenownedperformer and improvisor who inspired agreater appreciation of the organ and its music amongstthe general public.Guilmant was born on 12th March, 1837, atBoulogne-sur-mer. His parents were Jean-BaptisteGuilmant (1793-1890) and Marie-Ther?¿se Poulain(1798-1867). In 1849 he received his first organ lessonsfrom his father, who was organist of St Nicolas Churchin Boulogne and an occasional organ-builder. Heprogressed so rapidly that he was able to deputise for hisfather at St Nicolas at the age of twelve. In 1853 hebecame organist at St Joseph's Church in Boulogne, andin 1857, at the age of twenty, was appointed choirmasterat St Nicolas and a teacher at the BoulogneConservatoire. He also studied the violin and viola andwas elected a member of the Boulogne PhilharmonicSociety.In 1860 Guilmant heard a recital in Rouen given bythe Belgian virtuoso Jacques Lemmens (1823-1881).While in Rouen he played for Lemmens, who thensuggested that he come to Brussels for further study.Under the tutelage of Lemmens he learned the Bachtradition, studied improvisation, and acquired a fluentand immaculate technique. In 1862 he was invited totake part in the dedication of the new Cavaille-Collorgan at the Paris Church of St Sulpice, performingwith, among others, Cesar Franck and Camille Saint-Sa?½ns. In 1862 he began work on the first of hispublications for the organ, L'organiste liturgiste, Op. 65,which was to comprise ten volumes by the time of itscompletion in 1899.In 1871, at the age of 34, he was appointed organistat La Trinite in Paris, where he was to remain for 31years. In 1874 Sonata No. 1 in D minor, Op. 42, the firstof his eight sonatas was published. The sonatas appearedat regular intervals until 1906, when Sonata No. 8, Op. 91,was issued. It was during this period that Guilmantbegan activities as a teacher, eventually attractingstudents from all over the world.For the 1878 Exposition Universelle in Paris, he wasinvited to perform a series of recitals on the magnificentnew Cavaille-Coll organ installed in the Palais duTrocadero. These recitals were immensely popular anddid much to develop a worldwide audience of admirers.The series also demonstrated to the public that the organwas capable of being a concert instrument in its ownright, not solely for use in church. After the expositionended, Cavaille-Coll's instrument was originally to havebeen dismantled but, owing to the success of Guilmant'srecitals and to his own strong recommendations, it wasretained and Guilmant embarked on a series of histo
Tracklisting
Dariia Lytvishko
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; Marin Alsop
Alice Di Piazza; Basel Sinfonietta; NDR Bigband; Titus Engel
Anna Alas i Jove; Miquel Villalba
David Childs; Black Dyke Band; Nicholas Childs
Yaqi Yang; Margarita Parsamyan; Robynne Redmon; Minghao Liu; Frank Ragsdale; Kim Josephson; Kevin S
Vilmos Csikos; Olivier Lechardeur; Manon Lamaison
Tomas Cotik; Martingale Ensemble; Ken Selden
