Jean Langlais

Synopsis

French composer, organist, and improviser

• 1907 born in La Fontenelle
• He was born blind
• He studied with Marchal at the Institution des Jeunes Aveugles in Paris
• He took First prize in organ at the Paris Conservatoire in 1930
• 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
• 1945-1988 Organist Titulaire at the Basilique de Ste-Clotilde, Paris
• 1952 He made his first concert tour of the USA
• 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 details, see the Wikipedia article.

List of Organ Works

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

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 [1]

Pasticcio [2]

Pay to Listen

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

Other Resources

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Notes

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