COMPOSITION 1933
The original console
The history of the César Franck console appears straightforward at first glance. Charles Toumemire (1870-1939) received the old console from the pastor of Saint-Clotilde - Toumemire bestawed it to Flor Peeters, 'because of all his friends, he was the most loyal' - Peeters legated it to the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp - the Conservatory donated it to the Vleeshuismuseum, where it still is. At the request of Orgelkunst for the occasion of the Cavaillé-Coll year 2011, Annelies Focquaert began to more thoroughly delve into this mostly orally-recounted story, upon which previously unknown sources surfaced. The matter of the right of ownership in 1933 is uncertain, but it is likely due to the efforts of the pastor and Toumemire that the console still exists today Toumemires testament contains no information whatsoever about the console, which, together with some letters, confirms the working hypothesis that it was Alice Tournemire who, immediately before WWII gave the console to Flor Peeters. Although a letter by Peeters to Alice Toumemire indicates that Tournemire wanted the consoleto be transported to the city of Liège after Alices and Peeters'deaths, Alice did not comply with this wish and offered the console to Peeters 'because she did not want to await her death'. The console remained in Peeters' house in Mechelen from 1946 or 1947 onwards. After his death in 1986, the console was placed in the directors office of the Royal Flemish Music Conservatory in Antwerp. In 1991 it was given on laon to the Museum Vleeshuis. After an exhaustive search through files and texts supposed to be lost, most of the pieces concerning the history of this consolehave finally fallen into place. Abstract of a paper by Annelies Focquaert The history of the Cesar Franck console (in Dutch) published in Orgelkunst 34, 2, 82-96 (2011) Photos of the console: Victor WellerTHE RECORDINGS OF 1930-1932
Tournemire experienced the start of phonographic recording. In 1930 and 1931, just before Beuchet's work, Tournemire made a series of recordings for Polydor. His recordings are contained in a series of 9 discs of 78 turns, 25 cm or 30 cm. The recorded program consists of works by César Franck as well as two movements of his Mystical Organ and improvisations, all performed on the Great Organ of the Basilica. In May 1931, thanks to these recordings, he received the Grand Prix du Disque for Franck's 3rd Choral (2 Polydor discs 566057 and 58). His 5 improvisations (on Te Deum, Petite Rapsodie, Cantilena, Choral on Victimae Paschali, Fantasy on Ave Maris Stella, discs 561048, 561050, 566058, 566060, 566061) were later reconstructed by Maurice Duruflé on the basis of these recordings, and published in 1958 (Durand). • Two parts from l'Organiste by César Franck : "Chant de la Creuse" et "Noël angevin" • César Franck: Pastorale • César Franck: Cantabile • César Franck: Choral III • Improvisation Fantaisie • Improvisation on Victimae Paschali laudes • Paraphrase-Carillon (L'Orgue Mystique 35 - V) • Andantino (L'orgue Mystique XIIè Dimanche après Pentecôte) • Improvisation on Te DeumTHE ORGAN OF CESAR FRANCK 2/2
EYEWITNESS REPORTS ON THE ORGAN
BETWEEN 1859 AND 1932
Since its inauguration in 1859, the organ of Ste Clotilde has been considered one of the major masterpieces of the work of Aristide Cavaillé-Coll. Because of the importance of musical life in the Basilica, it soon attracted great renowned organists. A few have written down their impressions with respect to this organ. • Martineau, Minard & Bourgault- Ducoudray • Louis Vierne • Maurice Duruflé • André Marchal • Norbert Dufourq • André Fleury • Vincent d’Indy
THE GREAT ORGAN 2/5
the organ of Franck 1 - the organ of Franck 2 - the organ of Tournemire - the organ of Langlais -
the organ of Taddei
THE GREAT ORGAN
2/5
the organ of Franck 1 - the organ of
Franck 2 - the organ of Tournemire -
the organ of Langlais - the organ of
Taddei
THE ORGAN OF CESAR FRANCK 2/2
The original console
The history of the César Franck console appears straightforward at first glance. Charles Toumemire (1870-1939) received the old console from the pastor of Saint-Clotilde - Toumemire bestawed it to Flor Peeters, 'because of all his friends, he was the most loyal' - Peeters legated it to the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp - the Conservatory donated it to the Vleeshuismuseum, where it still is. At the request of Orgelkunst for the occasion of the Cavaillé-Coll year 2011, Annelies Focquaert began to more thoroughly delve into this mostly orally-recounted story, upon which previously unknown sources surfaced. The matter of the right of ownership in 1933 is uncertain, but it is likely due to the efforts of the pastor and Toumemire that the console still exists today Toumemires testament contains no information whatsoever about the console, which, together with some letters, confirms the working hypothesis that it was Alice Tournemire who, immediately before WWII gave the console to Flor Peeters. Although a letter by Peeters to Alice Toumemire indicates that Tournemire wanted the consoleto be transported to the city of Liège after Alices and Peeters'deaths, Alice did not comply with this wish and offered the console to Peeters 'because she did not want to await her death'. The console remained in Peeters' house in Mechelen from 1946 or 1947 onwards. After his death in 1986, the console was placed in the directors office of the Royal Flemish Music Conservatory in Antwerp. In 1991 it was given on laon to the Museum Vleeshuis. After an exhaustive search through files and texts supposed to be lost, most of the pieces concerning the history of this consolehave finally fallen into place. Abstract of a paper by Annelies Focquaert The history of the Cesar Franck console (in Dutch) published in Orgelkunst 34, 2, 82-96 (2011) Photos of the console: Victor WellerTHE RECORDINGS OF 1930-1932
Tournemire experienced the start of phonographic recording. In 1930 and 1931, just before Beuchet's work, Tournemire made a series of recordings for Polydor. His recordings are contained in a series of 9 discs of 78 turns, 25 cm or 30 cm. The recorded program consists of works by César Franck as well as two movements of his Mystical Organ and improvisations, all performed on the Great Organ of the Basilica. In May 1931, thanks to these recordings, he received the Grand Prix du Disque for Franck's 3rd Choral (2 Polydor discs 566057 and 58). His 5 improvisations (on Te Deum, Petite Rapsodie, Cantilena, Choral on Victimae Paschali, Fantasy on Ave Maris Stella, discs 561048, 561050, 566058, 566060, 566061) were later reconstructed by Maurice Duruflé on the basis of these recordings, and published in 1958 (Durand). • Two parts from l'Organiste by César Franck : "Chant de la Creuse" et "Noël angevin" • César Franck: Pastorale • César Franck: Cantabile • César Franck: Choral III • Improvisation Fantaisie • Improvisation on Victimae Paschali laudes • Paraphrase-Carillon (L'Orgue Mystique 35 - V) • Andantino (L'orgue Mystique XIIè Dimanche après Pentecôte) • Improvisation on Te Deum
Plus d’information sur la version « desktop »
EYEWITNESS REPORTS ON THE ORGAN
BETWEEN 1859 AND 1932
Since its inauguration in 1859, the organ of
Ste Clotilde has been considered one of the
major masterpieces of the work of Aristide
Cavaillé-Coll. Because of the importance of
musical life in the Basilica, it soon attracted
great renowned organists. A few have
written down their impressions with respect
to this organ.
•
Martineau, Minard & Bourgault-
Ducoudray
•
Louis Vierne
•
Maurice Duruflé
•
André Marchal
•
Norbert Dufourq
•
André Fleury
•
Vincent d’Indy
See the desktop version.
