Choral phrygien AWV 76, 1935?

Choral phrygien was first published alongside Choral dorien in 1938 by H. Hérelle & Cie., Paris. It was first performed in early 1936 by the American organist Virgine Bianchini (dedicatee of Litanies) in the Organ Hall of the former Paris Conservatoire building, Rue-Bergère.
Alain included some brief performance instructions in the manuscript. For the Choral phrygien – ‘Do not take into account the bar lines, which are there only to to make for easier reading’.
An organ student of Alain’s, Father Jean Sarrazin (1938/9) wrote, ‘I studied with him the two chorals dorien and phrygien… I played them several times, but I really felt that this did not please him. It was difficult for me to enter into his mysticism. I wanted to dodge numerous frictions when I should have emphasised them’.
Alain requires the Voix Humaine stop without tremulant. He does allow the player to use a soft Hautbois if the VH is not available. The Solo organ at Blackburn Cathedral provides a fine example of the Voix Humaine which I have used in my recording. I also took the liberty of adding the profound 32’ Sub Principal for the final chord.