Aspiration Religieuse (3,500 upload)

Édouard Commette (1883 - 1967) was born in Lyon in the center of the silk manufacturing district where his father was an exporter, Edouard studied piano at the lycée of Bourg-en-Bresse, after which he returned to Lyon and turned his attention to organ and harmony. A pupil of Charles Marie Widor, in 1900 he made his debut as organist in Lyon at the Church of the Good Shepherd (Église du Bon-Pasteur). Four years later he spent six months at the Church of Saint Polycarpe (Église Saint-Polycarpe), which was renowned in Lyon for its pipe organ.

He took up his post at Lyon Cathedral in 1904 and was a professor at the Conservatoire de Lyon. Among his students were Pierre-Octave Ferroud and Adrien Rougier. Called "the best French organist" by the well-known music critic Émile Vuillermoz, Commette earned similar tributes from his students and listeners from all parts of the world and is responsible for some of the earliest organ recordings.

Commette's "Six Pieces" were published in 1914. "Aspiration Religieuse" is the fifth of the set, and is dedicated to Valentin Neuville (1863-1941). The dedication calls Neuville "Organist de Francois a Lyon" but his biography lists him as organist of Saint-Nezier Church in Lyon, so, I've included photos of both.

Commette's piece is rich in harmonies that could only have been written by a French composer.

These six pieces are wide ranging in style in difficulty, with the concluding "Scherzo," dedicated to Widor, being very virtuosic.

In the next few days, I'll be uploading a piece by Ernest Chausson which was arranged by Commette.

The score as well as numerous photos are attached below.

As the title indicates above, this is my 3,500 upload! I say a sincere THANK YOU to all my friends, listeners, and subscribers!

I'm still having a very tough time of things, probably facing a third surgery quite soon, so please keep me in your prayers.

Peace to All.