Jean Langlais

Synopsis

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

• 1907 born in La Fontenelle
• Was blind since the age of two
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 1952 He made his first concert tour of the USA and performed more than 300 concerts in North America
• Professor for forty years at the National Institute for the Young Blind
• 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. ??	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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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

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