Jean Langlais

From Organ Playing Wiki
Jump to navigationJump to search

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

Click to sort by opus number, title, or year of composition or publication
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. 108 Miniature
Op. 111 American Suite 1961
Op. 114 Deux petites pièces dans le style médiéval 1960
Op. 128 Essai 1961
Op. 129 Trois mediations sur la Sainte Trinite 1962
Op. ?? Douze Petites Pieces 1962
Op. 134 Hommage a Rameau 1962-64
Op. 137 Prelude on Coronation
Op. 146 Poem of Life 1965
Op. 152 Poem of Peace 1966
Op. 153 Poem of Happiness 1966
Op. 155 Sonate en trio 1967
Op. 157 Livre oecuménique 1968
Op. 158 Deux Pieces 1968
Op. 161 Huit chants de Bretagne
Op. 165 Trois Implorations 1970
Op. 166 Troisième concerto, pour orgue et orchestre
Op. 167 Cinq Chorals 1971
Op. 168 Pièce pour trompette et orgue
Op. 169 Offrande a Marie 1971
Op. 170 Supplication
Op. 172 Petits préludes sur deux thèmes grégoriens
Op. 175 Cinq Mediations sur l'Apocalypse 1973
Op. 176 Suite Baroque 1973
Op. 178 Plein-jeu à la française
Op. 181 Huit Chants de Bretagne 1974
Op. 183 Celebration
Op. 184 Hommage à Louis Braille
Op. 185 Celebration, Quatre préludes
Op. 186 Trois Esquisses Romanes for one or two organs ad libitum 1975
Op. 187 Trois Esquisses Gothiques for one or two organs ad libitum 1975
Op. 189 Six petites pièces
Op. 190 Mosaique 1 1975
Op. 191 Mosaique 2 1976
Op. 195 Deuxieme Symphonie, "Alla Webern" 1976
Op. 196 Mosaique 3 1977
Op. 199 Triptyque Gregorien 1978
Op. 200 Progression 1978
Op. 204 Noels avec variations 1979
Op. 205 Prelude Gregorien
Op. 206 Offrande a une ame 1979
Op. 207 Troisieme Symphonie 1979
Op. 211 Rosace 1980
Op. 212 Chant des bergers priere des mages 1981
Op. 215 Prelude et allegro 1982
Op. 218 Cinq Soleils 1983
Op. 219 Sept Etudes de Concert for pedal solo 1983
Op. 220 Deux Pieces breves 1984
Op. ?? Huit Preludes 1984
Op. 223 Miniature II 1984
Op. ?? Methode d'orgue 1984
Op. 225 Talitah Koum 1985
Op. 226 Trois Pieces Faciles 1985
Op. 229 B.A.C.H., 6 Pieces for organ composed for JS Bach's Birthday 1985
Op. 230 American Folk-Hymn Settings 1985
Op. 231 In Memoriam 1985
Op. 235 Douze Versets 1986
Op. 236 Expressions 1986
Op. 237 Fantasy on Two Old Scottish Themes 1986
Op. ?? Trumpet Tune
Op. 243 Christmas Carol Hymn Settings 1988
Op. 244 Contrastes 1988
Op. 250 Mort et Resurrection 1990
Op. 251 Moonlight Scherzo 1990
Op. 252 Trois Offertoires 1990
Op. 253 Suite in Simplicitate 1990
Op. 254 Trio 1990

Background and General Perspectives on Performing Langlais Organ Works

Replace this text with any general perspectives that do not fit under the categories listed below. (For comments on a specific piece or genre, use the list of pieces above to navigate to that page.)

Registration and Organs

Replace this text with information on registration and organs that might be applicable to the whole set of pieces

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

Fingering and Pedaling

Replace this text with information on fingering and pedaling that might be applicable to the whole set of pieces

Articulation and Phrasing

Replace this text with information on articulation and phrasing that might be applicable to the whole set of pieces

Ornamentation

Replace this text with information on ornamentation that might be applicable to the whole set of pieces

Tempo and Meter

Replace this text with information on tempo and meter that might be applicable to the whole set of pieces

Scores and Editions

Replace this text with information on scores and editions that might be applicable to the whole set of pieces

Recordings

Replace this text with information on recordings

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.