"Offertoire sur les Grands Jeux" from Messe à l'usage des Couvents

The 'Grands Jeux' is the crowning glory of the French classical organ, a fiery combination of contrasting reeds and cornets on the Positif and Grand Orgue (plus Raissonance in this case) divisions. The Grands Jeux of the 1755 Isnard Organ in St Maximin (sampled by Sonus Paradisi: https://www.sonusparadisi.cz/en/organs/france/st-maximin-france.html) is one of the finest, especially when topped by the two mighty en-chamade 'Dessus de Trompette' stops.

François Couperin's 'Offertoire sur les Grands Jeux' is the most substantial from his 'Messe pour les Couvents' of 1690. Like that written for the 'Paroisses' the offertory is divided into three distinct section. In the bright key of G major, the movement opens with a sprightly section in triple metre before moving into G minor in a contrasting middle section. This section, written mainly in minims, uses just the bourdon and prestant stops resolving back in G major in preparation for the third and final section which features the full Grands Jeux in duple metre. There is no doubt that this is a majestic sound!