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The Centennial of Jehan Alain

Mark D

New member
As many of you probably know, the 100th birthday of the great French composer Jehan Alain is coming up in less than a month (February 3). This special occasion has prompted me to learn "Litanies" this year, one of my favorite pieces of all time. I absolutely love French organ music and Alain is certainly no exception, the music is exciting and dramatic. Here is the official website:
http://www.jehanalain.com/

Is anyone else doing anything special to commemorate the anniversary?
 

Soubasse

New member
There are a number of celebrations already programmed in Romainmotier, Switzerland where the Albert Alain organ has been superbly restored. If you're after more specific details, you might like to try contacting Guy Bovet via the Association Jehan Alain website (and I am immensely privileged to be able to be in attendance there later this year with my wife where the two of us will present a short recital!).

Jehan Alain has long been one of the most influential composers and figures in my own musical life and I also intend presenting a recital locally along with (hopefully) getting some other groups to perform some of his chamber and choral works.

I have also noticed on the web (and am heartened to see) a number of recitals across the USA and Europe dedicated to his centenary - as there should be! Thanks for starting this thread and keep up the interest in this very special composer. :)
 

Mark D

New member
That's great! I'm not going to have a recital but hey that's what I have a YouTube channel for. I might learn some other small works in the next few weeks like Le Jardin Suspendu since it's free from the public domain. Hopefully lots of people will be taking advantage of this!

Mark
 

Mark D

New member
Hoping to be able to YouTube-ize :)grin:) Litanies and the Variations on a theme by Clement Janequin. Maybe I'll do Le Jardin Suspendu also but time might be an issue as I'm doing all of this during my practice time before church. Whatever I do I'll post on here!
 

Mark D

New member
Mark.. what organ are you playing with the Toccata you posted?

Do you mean on YouTube? That is at Stanford Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Stanford, Kentucky, where I work. It is a 20-stop Pilcher with reservicing from Miller (both in Louisville). I have some complaints but it's a great organ. The only thing I'd like to see changed is it has no mixtures. :rolleyes:
 

Mark D

New member
I played an all-Alain church service on Sunday! It was great. I got Litanies recorded and after some editing I plan to put it on YouTube, symbolically on Thursday, which is his birthday. Not the greatest sound quality but I'm satisfied with my playing. Also expect Variations on Janecquin and Ballad in the Phrygian mode, however this Sunday I ran out of time before church and there's people talking in the background. So I plan to do those pieces next week.
 

Soubasse

New member
I haven't been here for a few days, but today was the obvious time to see if there had been any additions here.
Mark, great minds think alike!! :) Last night, in an uncharacteristic turn of good timing, I found an old video presentation I did for a school some years back, so I mp4-ed it and have posted on YouTube today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1uQvUJXGTA

I hope this is a worthy tribute.

Happy 100th birthday Jehan! You have never ceased to inspire and enthrall my attention.


Matt
 

JHC

Chief assistant to the assistant chief
That is one fantastic video Matt, very profound text, and that cute little ?? working the bellows, fantastic. I assume that you were the organist?
 

Soubasse

New member
Elves or goblins perhaps? :) He did a few cartoons featuring them, but yes, the one of them playing the little organ is a good one (sometimes when playing the pipes, it can feel like there are goblins inside up to mischief! :D ).

Aye, that was me playing (apologies for the slip-ups, but I'm still quite happy with that concert - I was certainly quite emotional by the end when I came to playing it).
 

White Knight

Spectral Warrior con passion
I haven't been here for a few days, but today was the obvious time to see if there had been any additions here.
Mark, great minds think alike!! :) Last night, in an uncharacteristic turn of good timing, I found an old video presentation I did for a school some years back, so I mp4-ed it and have posted on YouTube today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1uQvUJXGTA

I hope this is a worthy tribute.

Happy 100th birthday Jehan! You have never ceased to inspire and enthrall my attention.


Matt

Matt, I wish to echo Colin's thanks to you in sharing that link. In addition to being a great composer, Mr.Alain was a war hero, which is why he died at such a young age--29. May he rest in peace.
 

Soubasse

New member
Well, that was a very distinctive performance Mark! There were a couple of interpretive things that I wouldn't entirely agree with, but overall, your playing was highly articulate, enlivening and most engaging - great work!! Looking forward to hearing some of his other pieces you've mentioned.

I see what you mean (from one of your previous posts) about the organ - could do with some "beef" (sounds a bit top heavy?).

Matt
 

Mark D

New member
Thanks everyone! I understand Matt, I don't know that I've ever seen a more widely interpreted piece. It's like no matter how you play some parts, somebody different is going to call you out for it every time. I took after my favorite current organist Jean-Baptiste Robin in that respect, as I usually do when learning anything he's done. My organ does have some issues, in terms of being "top heavy" I will tell you there are very few reeds in the pedal, and none of them are 16'. On the other end of the spectrum, it doesn't have a single mixture either. So full organ sounds kind of muddy to me. But at 17, I can't complain about having any job on a real pipe organ.
 

White Knight

Spectral Warrior con passion
Thanks everyone! I understand Matt, I don't know that I've ever seen a more widely interpreted piece. It's like no matter how you play some parts, somebody different is going to call you out for it every time. I took after my favorite current organist Jean-Baptiste Robin in that respect, as I usually do when learning anything he's done. My organ does have some issues, in terms of being "top heavy" I will tell you there are very few reeds in the pedal, and none of them are 16'. On the other end of the spectrum, it doesn't have a single mixture either. So full organ sounds kind of muddy to me. But at 17, I can't complain about having any job on a real pipe organ.

Brother, you are fantastic, and obviously have a great future in front of you. Congratulations!
 
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