• Welcome to the Pipe Organ Forum! This is a part of the open community Magle International Music Forums focused on pipe organs (also known as "church organs"), organists, organ music and related topics.

    This forum is intended to be a friendly place where technically advanced organists and beginners (or even non-organists) can feel comfortable having discussions and asking questions. We learn by reading and asking questions, and it is hoped that the beginners (or non-organists) will feel free to ask even the simplest questions, and that the more advanced organists will patiently answer these questions. On the other hand, we encourage complex, technical discussions of technique, music, organ-building, etc. The opinions and observations of a diverse group of people from around the world should prove to be interesting and stimulating to all of us.

    As pipe organ discussions can sometimes become lively, it should be pointed out that this is an open forum. Statements made here are the opinion of the poster, and not necessarily that of the forum itself, its administrator, or its moderators.

    In order to post a new topic - or reply to existing ones - you may join and become a member by clicking on Register New User. It's completely free and only requires a working email address (in order to confirm your registration - it will never be given away!). We strive to make this a friendly and informative forum for anyone interested in pipe organs and organ music.

    (Note: If you wish to link to and promote your own website please read this thread first.)

    Many kind regards
    smile.gif

    Frederik Magle
    Administrator

    Krummhorn
    Co-Administrator

Noëls

aross30

New member
Well I'm trying to start the annual hunt for Christmas music and I've run into a bit of a brick wall. I heard a recording of Les dix noëls de Provence by Guy Morançon. They are essentially a 20th century take on some traditional Provencal noëls (written specifically for French classical organ). My University (McGill in Montréal) happens to have a French classical organ and I've been desperately trying to get my hands on these elusive noëls, but they appear to be out of print. I've looked around online and in music stores and no one seems to have any left in stock (Though the online ones say they do until you try to actually order them).

If you know of any other modern noëls (especially ones that would sound great on a French classical instrument) I'd love to hear your suggestions!

Any other Christmas music you want to recommend is also great.

(P.S. if you have copies of the Morançon noëls and you don't want them anymore, please send me a message!)

Thanks!
 

Contratrombone64

Admiral of Fugues
Hey there aross30, really nice to see you posting here. I can't help you on this question, but Lars (krumhorn), the moderator and many others will, I'm sure. Welcome, again, really nice to see you here.
 

aross30

New member
Hey there aross30, really nice to see you posting here. I can't help you on this question, but Lars (krumhorn), the moderator and many others will, I'm sure. Welcome, again, really nice to see you here.

Many thanks! I'm so glad I found this forum. It's been infinitely useful so far!

Alex.
 

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
Welcome aboard, Alex :wave:

Here's a link to a really nice Noel by Daquin (D'Aquin in some circles).
And more of these D'Aquin pieces edited by Alexandre Guilmant.

The IMSLP site is all Public Domain (with certain restrictions) - I have downloaded literally thousands of organ works from that site - all in PDF format - which has become my virtual library.
 

wljmrbill

Member
Another Guilmant is Noel Polonais ( variations on an Ancient Polish Christmas Carol) is a nice one too. I have it in a book entitled " Ecclesiae Organum .. Organ music for the church service" complied and edited by Dr. william C. Carl. ( 1956-John Curch Company) probably not in business now. I think some selections from Handel's "The Messiah" is always good too. Always I use festive stuff and familiar pieces as this is the once a year exposure for many people...LOL..Easter coming in 2nd. Our friend JSB has mnay selections that are good for Christmas sevices. old rule: as long as you like it and enjoy playing it:eek:thers will enjoy it too.
 

Nikam

New member
Hello aross30! OrganoPleno105 gave the link to his blog in another post.
http://justanotherorganist.blogspot.com
Well worth a look - and a listen! Not only does he give masses of information, he has included small samples of written music and also plays some (?most) of the
pieces he mentions.

One of the compositions I listened to (and watched him play) earlier was by Fleury - 'Variations sur un Noel Bourguignon'. Might be of interest to you. OrganoPleno105 also gives the link to purchase the book. Have ordered mine. Including postage to UK it is only costing me about £8.50.

Jim (OrganoPleno105) if you're reading this, have been very interested in the parts of your blog I've so far had time to access.
 

FinnViking

Member
Personally I think the French Noels are only assocaited with Christmas in those countries where their melodies are used as Christmas songs. I never play them in Christmas time as the listeners don't hear any connection between them and Christmas. I prefer pieces based on familiar carols (Adeste fideles, Crusaders' Hymn, Vom himmel hoch etc.) and "local" Christmas melodies i.e. Finnish Christmas songs.
A year ago i made a CD with Christmas organ music, and its content looks like this:

1. Kurt Noack: Heinzelmännchens Wachtparade
2. Howard Blake: Walking in the Air
3. Richard Leibert: Under the Christmas Mistletoe
4. David Lasky: Joy to the World
5. - ’ ’ - The First Nowell
6. - ’ ’ - Silent Night
7. - ’ ’ - In Dulci Jubilo
8. Folgert Zwaving: Joy to the World
9. - ’ ’ - Vom Himmel hoch
10. - ’ ’ - O du fröhliche
11. Emil Juel-Frederiksen: Dejlig er Jorden (Crusaders’ Hymn)
12. Jaap Niewenhuijse: Komt allen tezamen (Adeste)
13. James Pethel: Away in a Manger
14. Louis Lefébure-Wély: Venite adoremus
15. Nico de Mes: The First Noël
16. - ’ ’ - O Come, All Ye Faithful
17. - ’ ’ - Silent Night! Holy Night!
18. Martin Mans: U zij de glorie (Tochter Zion)
19. - ’ ’ - Hoor, de eng’len (Angels We Have Heard on High)
20. Ernst Richter: Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern
21. Johann Sebastian Bach: Vom Himmel hoch BWV 700
22. Marko Hakanpää: Improvisation on a Finnish Xmas Song
23. Garth Edmundson: Toccata on Vom Himmel hoch

There is quite a good selection at http://www.musicnotes.com/
There are sound samples and previews of the music.

Just search 'organ christmas'.
 

Nikam

New member
The association point you make is a good one FinnViking, for I was looking at Guilmant's 'Offertory in c minor on Christmas Carols' which
didn't seem at all Christmas-sy to me!
 

OrganoPleno105

New member
Nikam, I'm glad you've read my blog and found it useful. It thrills me to hear that someone else is interested in the Fleury variations. It's a fantastic work!
 

Nikam

New member
...... and my book arrived from California this morning, so exploration is the order of the day!! Couple of interesting Pachelbel pieces in there too.
Thanks again for the link OP105.
 
Last edited:

OrganoPleno105

New member
Oh great news! Also there is a really nice other set of Noel Variations that is are shorted and much easier. Noel Ancien, check it out!
 

Nikam

New member
Yes! Had a look at that one yesterday and liked it. My battle at the moment is the Variation with feet on whole beats, right hand on quavers and left hand playing triplets . Brain strain indeed! :)
 
Top