Cortège (24 Pièces en style libre, Livre I, Op. 31, No. 2)

Louis Vierne (1870-1937) was titular organist of Notre-Dame de Paris from 1900 until his death in 1937, and master of its superb 1867 Cavaillé-Coll instrument. Following the splendors of the Third Symphony for organ (1911), the Pièces en style libre, composed in 1913, work a vein of intimate fantasy often laced with Vierne's penchant for the grotesque and bizarre. Specified as suitable for performance on a harmonium, the composer's registrations nevertheless indicate a variety of coloristic effects which come off adequately only on large instruments, while the grandeurs of several demonstrative numbers -- e.g., the Cortège, or the Carillon -- exceed the harmonium's modest capacity. The collection runs the gamut of major and minor keys in order -- C major, C minor, D flat major, etc. -- in a salute to Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier.

"Livre I" dates from 1913, and "Cortège" is the 2nd work in the set. The work is dedicated to the blind organist,
Augustin Barié (15 November 1883 or 1884 - 22 August 1915).

This work is quite well-known, and is one of the ones that exceeds the confines of the harmonium. In this recording, I've used the version by Pierre Gouin, which does a lot in terms of filling out the textures, and providing a pedal part. The sounds are more massive, and help to make use of the resources of the instrument.

The effect may not be to the liking of all listeners, but in terms of creating a "practical performance" I think it is very successful.

The solemnity of the work helps recall the solemn processional of Palm Sunday and marks the beginning of Holy Week.

WARNING! - If you do use this edition, there is a SERIOUS ERROR in measure 14! The middle note of the 8th-note left hand chord on the second half of beat two should be A NATURAL, and NOT the A-flat as given in the music.

The score is attached below, as well as a number of photos of Louis Vierne, and one of the dedicatee, Augustin Barié.

I wish you all a peaceful Holy Week.