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    Frederik Magle
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French organ music grading

Parison

New member
Guys
Im keen to perform a few classics from the French repertoire and I am curious to know which pieces are good to start with and what their equivalent grades might be.
Iv just about got my head around the Gigout in B Minor and the Boellman Suite Gothique. I am considering the Franck Prelude Fugue and Variation and the A Minor Chorale as the next step. Do you consider these pieces to be easy enough or are they really for the virtuosos?
 

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
Hi Parison,

I am far from a virtuoso organist, but have had both Franck pieces mentioned in my repertoire since my 4th year of organ study (1958), the P F et Variations was once memorized for an organ playing competition (which I won) many years ago.

I think they are pieces of quality and should not pose any greater problems learning than what you have experienced with the Boellman. Do they require virtuosity? Not at all ... both Franck pieces are a delight to play and I have never tired of them - I keep both in my active repertoire.

I've never attacked the Gigout piece, but have played Boellman several times. My current desire is to learn the Mozart Fantasia in F Minor and the Vierne Carillon de Westminster.
 
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