Jehan alain was a french organist and composer who was tragically killed while fighting the germans near saumur in 1940. Jehan alain s father was also an organist, and a pupil of guilmant and vierne. He learned to play the organ at home on an organ that his father had built. His short career as a composer began in 1929, when alain was 18, and lasted until the outbreak of the second world war 10 years later. His litanies for organ was composed in 1937 and is a sublime addition to the instruments repertoire. Jehan ariste alain was born into a family of organists on february 3rd, 1911 in stgermainenlaye, a suburb in west paris. Christopher herrick plays litanies by jehan alain youtube.
Jehan alain simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. In the uk, this was the very first release btm on miles copelands fledgling label, btm records british talent managers. Download alain litanies in pdf and mp3 for free and without s from. Jehan alain born saintgermainenlaye, paris, 3 february, 1911. All 6 recordings 1 naxos 4 s scores 3 p parts 1 choral cistercien, ja 51. Germainenlaye to a musical family headed by his father albert, who was an organist, composer and organ builder.
These are absolutely the best organ pieces in existence classic fm. Turn of the cards is the fifth studio album by the english progressive rock band renaissance, released in 1974. Litanies began as an organ piece called phantasmagorie from which alain drew some material for the later work which he originally called supplications. Baixe alain litanies em pdf e mp3 gratuitamente e sem direitos autorais do. February 3rd 2011 is the 100th anniversary of the birth of french composer jehan alain. Have just been doing a search here to find out what information is being passed around about jehan alain s centenary this year and found this thread. The following 6 pages are in this category, out of 6 total. Choral dorien, ja 67 choral phrygien, ja 68 yeardate of composition yd of comp. His most famous work is litanies, composed in 1937. Litanies by jehan alain played on the klaisseifert organ of the augustinerkirche, wurzburg dolby 5. Litanies for organ by jehan alain softcover sheet music. Featuring the piece litanies, by jehan alain, performed by james lancelot and filmed in the picturesque norman cathedral at durham.
The worldfamous french organist marieclaire alain died february 26th, 20 at the age of 86 plays litanies by her brother jehan alain 19111940 on the great organ of the hofkirche in luzern. Live recording at the organ concert in the lutheran cathedral of peter and paul mosc. It was the last renaissance studio album to include excerpts from existing classical pieces. The plainsong phrase which opens the music is repeated continually, propelled by a locomotive rhythm to an ecstatic climax. Litanies was composed in 1937 and remains the bestknown and mostoftenplayed organ work of french composer jehan alain.
Authenticity is assured as the organist here and in a second volume of alain s organ music is marieclaire alain, jehan s sister, who has long championed his works. She performs on a besancon organ alain knew well and. This 2cd set features his complete works for organ performed by lars notto birkeland on the new goll organ at fagerborg church in oslo. Loreto aramendi plays bach sinfonia from cantata no. Jehan alain 19111940 was heir to the french organ tradition, literally and figuratively. The worldfamous french organist marieclaire alain died february 26th, 20 at the age of 86 plays litanies by her brother jehan alain. Litanies, ja 119 alain, jehan since this work was first published after 1923 with the prescribed notice, it is unlikely that this work is public domain in the usa. The elder alain had built an organ into his own living room and home schooled three of his children jehan, olivier, and marieclaire in the art of playing the king of instruments. His father albert, was a composer, organist and even organbuilder, having built the alain house organ for which many of jehan s works would be written. Paolo oreni improvising a toccata hommage to cochereau by paolo oreni. Alain studied with organ virtuosos, guilmant and vierne and was primarily an. Played by andrew dewar on the 1990 wrong date shown in video j. Archive recording wolfgang rubsam uploaded a video 5 years ago 9. Get youtube premium get youtube tv best of youtube music sports gaming movies tv shows news live.
His father was organist and composer albert alain, his brother olivier alain was a pianist and composer, and his sister marieclaire alain was an organist who recorded jehan s music as well as three traversals of the complete organ works of bach. Jehan alain was certainly deep and spiritually strong person. At the time of his death, he was only 29 years old. Loeuvre dorgue alain, jehan since this work was first published after 1924 with the prescribed notice, it is unlikely that this work is public domain in the usa. Son and brother of musicians, pupil of the greatest composers of the time, rewarded for his works from a very young age, in 1940 he. One of the earliest pieces to feature fragments of what later turned up in litanies was fantasmagorie the train wheel rhythm is heard quite distinctly.
Litany, in christian worship and some forms of judaic worship, is a form of prayer used in services and processions, and consisting of a number of petitions. Elizaveta suslova organ, russia plays litanies by jehan ariste alain. Marieclaire alain plays litanies by jehan alain youtube. This is certainly the most hairraising performance of this magnificent piece that i ve ever heard. Despite his youth, he left behind a significant body of organ music that. The 1937 litanies, perhaps alain s bestknown work, packs more into its brief four minutes than many lengthy works of others. Most organ music fans are familiar with jehan alain s most famous composition litanies which belongs in the top 10 list of the greatest organ compositions of all time, in my opinion.
Litanies pianos 2 by jehan alain softcover sheet music. Previous sheet music next sheet music litanies ja 119 alain jehan. It will also set forth facts concerning alain s registrations and other items of special interest to organists. Litanies by jehan alain 19221940 a madame virginie schildgebianchini one of the most brilliant and least known composers of the last century was the frenchman jehan alain, born in 1911 in a suburb of paris. For 20 years we provide a free and legal service for free sheet music. The organ works of jehan alain page v unt digital library.
Jehan alain 19111940 was a french organist and composer. His most famous organ pieces are trois danses three dances and a brilliant piece called litanies. This short composition is based on a snatch of chantlike melody, given as an incipit at the start of the work. Lets start with something loud and brilliant from french organist and composer jehan alain. It is no surprise then that litanies opens disc one. Alain litanies for orchestra by anthony esland issuu. His music and your interpretation is the proof, thanks. However, it does not propose to analyze every bar of every composition but rather to point out certain melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic traits that are peculiar to this composers style.