Suite du deuxième ton

Louis-Nicolas Clérambault (19 December 1676 – 26 October 1749) was a French musician, best known as an organist and composer. He was born and died in Paris.

He came from a musical family (his father and two of his sons were also musicians). While very young, he learned to play the violin and harpsichord and he studied the organ with André Raison, and composition and voice with Jean-Baptiste Moreau.

Clérambault became the organist at the church of the Grands-Augustins and entered the service of Madame de Maintenon. After the death of Louis XIV and Guillaume-Gabriel Nivers, he succeeded the latter at the organ of the church of Saint-Sulpice and the royal house of Saint-Cyr, an institution for young girls from the poor nobility. He was responsible there for music, the organ, directing chants and choir, etc. It was in this post—it remained his after the death of Madame de Maintenon—that he developed the genre of the "French cantata" of which he was the uncontested master. In 1719 he succeeded his teacher André Raison at the organs of the church of the Grands-Jacobins.

The well-known Suite du deuxième ton comes from his 1710 publication, I think you will be PLEASANTLY AMAZED just how well this works and how "natural" it sounds on the great Müller in the St. Bavo church! All the sounds and the more than generous acoustic make for a feast for the ear! Nothing is lacking in the sound palette, and the reeds, while "not French" more than fill the bill. Notice also the wonderful "Grosse Tierce" in the "Duo." I'm afraid that I broke "the rule" in the final "Grand Jeux," since I added the 16' Fagot from the Rugwerk, but I think you will approve of the sound.

The listening point is about 2/3 "away" from the organ.

The score, as well as a photo of Clérambault's portrait are attached.

Plein jeu (0:00)
Duo (3:10)
Trio (5:20)
Basse de cromorne (7:55)
Flûtes (10:00)
Récit de Nazard (14:40)
Caprice sur les Grands Jeux (17:50)