Dans la Gloire des Invalides
A series of eleven improvisations by Marcel Dupré
List of Pieces
Background and General Perspectives
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"MARCEL DUPRÉ: Dans la Gloire des Invalides (Eleven Improvised Versets Reconstructed by David A. Stech). Wayne Leupold Editions WL600189, $14.50. On December 8, 1957, the doyen of French organists, the then 71-year-old Marcel Dupré, played for the dedication of Beuchet-Dehierre's rebuild of the organ of Les Invalides. At the ceremony, the Cardinal of Paris read ten invocations imploring the sacred instrument to be faithful to its mission. After each, Dupré responded with an improvised verset. The service was recorded by Erato (LDE 3082) and issued on a long-playing disc, Dans Ia Gloire des Invalides. The recording was the first commercial phonograph recording of Dupré improvising and provided organ lovers with concrete testimony of the legendary virtuoso described by Widor as "the greatest improviser since Bach." (Dupré subsequently passed the mantle and appellation to his student Pierre Cochereau.) David A. Stech, professor of music at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks, has written out the eleven pieces (Dupré played a final sortie after the last prayer) in musical notation-a phenomenal task, given the quality of the recording and the acoustics of the building-and has made them available to all. The results are mostly three-page works similar to Dupré's 15 Versets, Op. 18, which he had improvised just 37 years earlier-and written down himself."[1]
"The harmonic style throughout is tonal but less conservative than his late recorded improvisations that sound more like Guilmant than Dupré. The complete set makes enchanting practice sessions, excellent teaching pieces, a superb introduction to the music of Marcel Dupré, and just downright lovely music."[2]
Follow this link for Kathleen Thomerson's article on the pieces and performance hints for the Service Playing Exam.
Scores and Editions
These pieces were originally improvisations performed by Dupre. They were transcribed and reconstructed by Gerald A. Stech. The score in print that is accepted by the AGO Service Playing exam is published by Wayne Leupold and is available through Wayne Leupold Editions.
Recordings
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Free Online
Follow this link, scroll down to the sixth entry (1957 Dedicatory Organ Concert), and click "High Quality mp3 sample" to hear excerpts from Dupré's original improvisations from which these versets were transcribed.
Pay to Listen
A CD of Dupré's original improvisation is available by following this link. Scroll down to the sixth entry (1957 Dedicatory Organ Concert).
Other Resources
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Notes
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