Rorate Caeli (Choral orné)

Jeanne Demessieux (1921 - 1968)

French organist. Studied under Marcel Dupre. Became organist at the Madeleine in Paris in 1962. Longer profile here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeanne_Demessieux

This piece comes from Twelve Choral-Preludes on Gregorian Chant Themes, op. 8 composed in 1947 and published in 1950.

Registration calls for Bourdon 8' on one manual and Cornet on the other. The Skinner organ doesn't have a Cornet, so I used Choir Clarinet 8', Nazard, Gambette 4'. The Bourdon is also missing so I used the Harmonic Flute on the Great and when a Flute 8' is later added it is the Rohrflute from the Swell.

I am not Catholic or High Church, so yes, it is probably the wrong time of year to be publishing it, but to me it is a lovely piece of music.

I have recently ventured past late 19th, early 20th century French musicians and discovering Langlais, Demessieux etc. So these pieces are all very much new to me!

Hope you enjoy.
John