Rêverie

from Vingt-quatre Pièces en style libre by Louis Vierne

Background

Dedicated to Edouard Mignan.

 E Minor
 4 pages
 1-4 voice texture

This piece is a great introduction to French Romantic organ music. The tempo and rhythms are very straightforward, and the pedal is manageable for most organists.

Registration and Organs

The following registration indications are given in the score:

G. Fonds 8' sans montre
R. Fonds 8'
Ped. Fonds doux 16', 8'
Claviers accouplés. Tirasses

On the Great you would want a few of the 8' foundation stops, but not the 8' principal (the French "montre"). On the Swell (the French "récit") you would want some of the 8' foundation stops. These may include flutes, a principal, and possibly a string. For the Pedal you would want some of the softer 16' and 8' stops. The Swell should be coupled to the Great, and both manuals should be coupled to the Pedal. You should start the piece with the Swell box closed. If your organ has an expressive Great division, you will want its shades open. You will need to open or close the Swell box for the crescendos and diminuendos indicated in the score. Where the score indicates "G.R." you would play the manual parts on the Great with the Swell coupled. When the score indicates "R." you would play the manual parts on the Swell. Where the score indicates "Ped." you would play the lowest line on the pedals with the two manuals coupled. Where the score indicates "Ped. R." you would play the lowest notes on the pedals with only the Swell coupled. At one point in the piece the score indicates "G. montre." You would need to add an 8' principal to the Great at this point and remove it when the score indicates "Otez la montre." Thus in order to perform this piece you will need a few pistons prepared with the necessary stop and coupler changes. Or, you could possibly make the stop changes by hand at the places indicated in the score.

Fingering and Pedaling

 Pedaling throughout about one-half of the piece
 Expression pedal

Articulation and Phrasing

"Legato playing is best suited to the organ for, by the very nature of the instrument, the evenness of all notes in the same register quite naturally calls for precisely connecting these notes one after the other."

Vierne stressed to make certain that the inner voices are legato and that the pedal be played legato as well. He advised "playing the black keys 'on the very edge to facilitate, when practical, sliding onto the naturals.'"

Ornamentation

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Tempo and Meter

 3/4, Moderato, quarter note = 69

Scores and Editions

File:Vierne, Op. 31, No. 10 - Reverie.pdf

Recordings

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Free Online

YouTube Recording, Hutzman Patrik

Pay to Listen

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Other Resources

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Notes

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