Hosanna Filio David (Choral Fugue)

The French organist, pianist, composer, and pedagogue, Jeanne Marie-Madeleine Demessieux (1921-1968) entered the Montpellier Conservatory in 1928. Four years later, in 1932, she obtained first prizes in solfège and piano. In 1933, Demessieux was enrolled as student at the Paris Conservatory. The same year, 1923, Jeanne Demessieux was appointed titular organist at Saint-Esprit, a post she held for 29 years. Between 1936 and 1939, she studied organ privately with Marcel Dupré, whose organ class at the Conservatoire she joined in 1939. After receiving a first prize in organ performance and improvisation in 1941, Demessieux studied five more years privately with Marcel Dupré in Meudon, before she played her début recital at Salle Pleyel in Paris in 1946. This was the beginning of her career as an international recitalist. She played more than 700 concerts in Europe and the USA. Demessieux had a prodigious memory: she had memorized more than 2,500 works, including the complete organ works of J.S. Bach, César Franck, Franz Liszt, Felix Mendelssohn and Marcel Dupré.

In 1962, Jeanne Demessieux was appointed titular organist at La Madeleine in Paris. In addition, she was Professor of organ at Nancy Conservatoire (1950-1952) and the Conservatoire Royal in Liège, Belgium (1952-1968). Owing to health problems, Demessieux was obliged to limit her performance activities. Aside from her organ compositions, she wrote pieces for piano, numerous songs and choir works including an oratorio, and orchestral works.

"Hosanna Filio David" (Choral Fugue) is based on the traditional Palm Sunday chant, which is played in the pedals by the 4' Clarion, while Fonds 8'&4' provide the fugal counterpoint.