Jean Langlais

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Synopsis

Jean Langlais (1907-1991) was a French composer, organist, and improviser.[1]

  • 1907 born in La Fontenelle[2]
  • Was blind since the age of two[3]
  • He studied with Marchal at the Institution des Jeunes Aveugles in Paris
  • He took First prize in organ at the Paris Conservatoire in 1930
  • In 1931, he received the “Grand Prix d’Execution et Improvisation des Amis de l’Orgue”, after having studied improvisation with Charles Tournemire[4]
  • He took second prize in composition in 1934
  • 1932 He was the organist at St. Pierre-de-Montrouge
  • He also joined the staff at the blind school where he studied. He taught composition and organ
  • Professor for forty years at the National Institute for the Young Blind[5]
  • In 1945, he became the successor to Cesar Franck and Charles Tournemire at the prestigious organ tribune of Sainte-Clotilde in Paris. He left that position in 1987 at the age of 80, having been titular for 42 years[6]
  • 1952 He made his first concert tour of the USA and performed more than 300 concerts in North America[7]
  • Professor for forty years at the National Institute for the Young Blind[8]
  • 1962-1975 he taught at the Schola Cantorum in Paris
  • 1991 died in Paris

He followed the tradition of Tournemire and used gregorian melodies. He enhanced them with Polymodal harmony. His music was used to express religious faith. He became known for being the best teacher on improvisation.

For additional details, see the Wikipedia article.

List of Organ Works

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Opus Title Year
Op. 1 Prelude et Fugue 1927
Op. 51 Fete 1946
Op. 77 Folkloric Suite 1952
Op. ?? Poemes Evangeliques 1932
Op. ?? Trois Paraphrases Gregoriennes 1933-34
Op. 6 Vingt-Quatre Pieces for harmonium or organ 1934-39
Op. ?? Premiere Symphonie 1941
Op. ?? Neuf Pieces 1942-43
Op. ?? Deux Offetoires pour tous les temps sur des textes gregoriens 1943
Op. ?? Suite Breve 1947
Op. ?? Suite Medievale en forme de messe basse 1947
Op. ?? Suite Francaise 1948
Op. ?? Incantation pour un jour saint- Dominica in Palmis 1949-1954
Op. ?? Four Postludes 1950
Op. ?? hommage a Frescobaldi 1951
Op. ?? Huit Pieces Modales 1956
Op. ?? Organ Book 1956
Op. ?? Triptyque 1956
Op. ?? Organ Pieces for the Mass 1957
Op. ?? Three Characteristic Pieces 1957
Op. ?? 13 pieces d'orgue 1959-76
Op. ?? Essai 1961
Op. ?? Trois mediations sur la Sainte Trinite 1962
Op. ?? Douze Petites Pieces 1962
Op. ?? Hommage a Rameau 1962-64
Op. ?? Poem of Life 1965
Op. ?? Poem of Peace 1966
Op. ?? Poem of Happiness 1966
Op. ?? Sonate en trio 1967
Op. ?? Livre oecumenique 1968
Op. ?? Deux Pieces 1968
Op. ?? Trois Implorations 1970
Op. ?? Cinq Chorals 1971
Op. ?? Ofrande a Marie 1971
Op. ?? Cinq Mediations sur l'Apocalypse 1973
Op. ?? Suite Baroque 1973
Op. ?? Huit Chants de Bretagne 1974
Op. ?? Trois Esquisses Romanes for one or two organs ad libitum 1975
Op. ?? Trois Esquisses Gothiques for one or two organs ad libitum 1975
Op. ?? Mosaique 1 1975
Op. ?? Mosaique 2 1976
Op. ?? Deuxieme Symphonie, "Alla Webern" 1976
Op. ?? Mosaique 3 1977
Op. ?? Triptyque Gregorien 1978
Op. ?? Progression 1978
Op. ?? Noels avec variations 1979
Op. ?? Afrande a une ame 1979
Op. ?? Troisieme Symphonie 1979
Op. ?? Rosace 1980
Op. ?? Chant des bergers priere des mages 1981
Op. ?? Prelude et allegro 1982
Op. ?? Soleils 1983
Op. ?? Sept Etudes de Concert for pedal solo 1983
Op. ?? Deux Pieces breves 1984
Op. ?? Huit Preludes 1984
Op. ?? Miniature II 1984
Op. ?? Methode d'orgue 1984
Op. ?? Talitah Koum 1985
Op. ?? Trois Pieces Faciles 1985
Op. ?? B.A.C.H., 6 Pieces for organ composed for JS Bach's Birthday 1985
Op. ?? American Folk-Hymn Settings 1985
Op. ?? In Memoriam 1985
Op. ?? Douze Versets 1986
Op. ?? Expressions 1986
Op. ?? Fantasy on Two Old Scottish Themes 1986
Op. ?? Christmas Carol Hymn Settings 1988
Op. ?? Contrastes 1988
Op. ?? Mort et Resurrection 1990
Op. ?? Moonlight Scherzo 1990
Op. ?? Trois Offertoires 1990
Op. 253 Suite in Simplicitate 1990
Op. 254 Trio 1990

Background and General Perspectives on Performing Langlais Organ Works

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Registration and Organs

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See the footnote in the "Notes" section at the bottom of the page. [9]

Fingering and Pedaling

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Articulation and Phrasing

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Ornamentation

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Tempo and Meter

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Scores and Editions

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Recordings

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Free Online

Pipedreams radio broadcast #1119, "Langlais on Langlais."

Pipedreams radio broadcast #1124, "In Memoriam Jean Langlais."

Fete performed by Christopher Young

Pasticcio performed by Marie Ducrot, at the Church of St. Martin in Pau

Pay to Listen

Available for purchase at iTunes, "Langlais joue Langlais".

Other Resources

See the Jean Langlais website for a list of publications dealing with Langlais and his style. [1]


A DVD documentary, Life and Music of Jean Langlais, is available from the Organ Historical Society [2]

Notes

  1. Oxford Music Online, accessed 18 February 2015
  2. Jean Langlais Website, http://jeanlanglais.com/index.php
  3. Jean Langlais Website, http://jeanlanglais.com/index.php
  4. Jean Langlais Website, http://jeanlanglais.com/index.php
  5. Jean Langlais Website, http://jeanlanglais.com/index.php
  6. Jean Langlais Website, http://jeanlanglais.com/index.php
  7. Jean Langlais Website, http://jeanlanglais.com/index.php
  8. Jean Langlais Website, http://jeanlanglais.com/index.php
  9. This footnote was entered in the "Registration and Organs" article

This space is for automatic insertion of footnotes. To enter a footnote from anywhere in the article, start by typing the tag <ref> and then enter the text, and type the tag </ref> to end the footnote. The footnote will then appear in this "Notes" section automatically.