Marcel Dupré
Synopsis
French organist, composer, teacher, editor
- 1886 born in Rouen, France
- 1904 began formal study at the Paris Conservatory
- 1907 received first prize for Organ
- 1909 received first prize for Fugue
- 1920 performed over ten recitals, playing the complete organ works of Bach from memory
- 1926-1954 professor of organ performance and improvisation at Paris Conservatory
- 1934-1971 titular organist at Sainte-Sulpice in Paris
- 1971 died in Meudon, France
- A student of Guilmant, Vierne, and Widor
- Became famous as an improviser and composer in a French symphonic style
- Some of his most famous compositions began as concert improvisations
- He performed more than 2000 concerts, including ten tours in the United States
- "His organ technique was considered formidable in his day"[1]
Dupré was born in 1886 to a family of musicians. He studied at the Paris Conservatoire and took first prize in three contests there – fugue, organ, and composition. He was the organist at St Sulpice from 1934 until his death in 1971, toured, and taught extensively in Europe and America.
Many of Dupré’s own compositions have overt pedagogical purposes. For example, both the Tombeau de Titelouze and the 79 Chorales use chorale and chant tunes found in the works of other composers (Titelouze and JS Bach), and are meant to be introductions to that music.
Dupre had an excellent memory and could play the entire works of Bach from memory.[2]
For details, see the Wikipedia article on Marcel Dupré.
List of Organ Works
Background and General Perspectives on Performing Dupré Organ Works
"Dupré's harmonic style was based upon early Twentieth-century common-practice harmonic style, with occasionally -added sixths and ninths that sometimes suggest elements of quartal harmony. His harmonic progressions were enriched by a delightfully unpredictable angularity that continue to make his style sound fresh and inviting, and certianly distinctly late Twentieth-Century to today's listener."[3]
Registration and Organs
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See the footnote in the "Notes" section at the bottom of the page. [4]
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
- Prelude and Fugue in B Major (Op. 7 No. 1) as performed by Daryl Robinson
- Antiphon III (Op. 18 No. 3) as performed by Linda Margetts
- Cortege et Litanie (Op. 19 No. 2) as performed by Marcel Dupre
- Crucifixion from Symphonie-Passion (Op. 23 No. 3) as performed by Marcel Dupre
Pay to Listen
- The Stations of the Cross (Op. 29) as performed by Stephen Tharp on NAXOS
- Cortege et Litanie (Op. 19 No 4.) and Symphonie Passion (Op. 23) as performed by Peter Richard Conte on NAXOS
- Cortege et Litanie (Op 19 No. 2) as performed by Daniel Jay McKinley and the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, under the direction of David Bowden
Other Resources
"Marcel Dupre': The Man and His Music." B. The Musical Times, Vol. 61, No. 934 (Dec. 1, 1920), pp. 814-816.
Marcel Dupré, the work of a master organist. Murray, Michael 1943 March 19, Boston: Northeastern University Press, 1985, xxv, 259 p.: ill.; 25 cm., English. ML 416 .D83 M9 1985
The organ works of Marcel Dupré. Steed, Graham. Hillsdale, N.Y.: Pendragon Press, 1999, xviii, 271 p.: ill.; 24 cm., English. MT 145 .D76 S73 1999
Recollections. Dupré, Marcel 1886-1971. Melville, N.Y.: Belwin-Mills Pub. Corp, 1975, xiv, 162 p.: ill.; 23 cm., English. ML 410 .D947 A33
Notes
- ↑ Biographical information found prior to the preface in Dans la Gloire des Invalides, Wayne Leupold edition.
- ↑ Rollin Smith, Louis Vierne: Organist of Notre Dame Cathedral, 161. The Complete Organ No. 3. Hillsdale, New York: Pendragon Press, 1999.
- ↑ Biographical information found prior to the preface in Dans la Gloire des Invalides, Wayne Leupold edition.
- ↑ 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.
