Symphonie 2 (Cantabile)

Written in 1902 and published shortly after, Louis Vierne’s Second Symphony for Organ is a masterpiece of the French Romantic repertoire, dedicated to the renowned organ builder Charles Mutin. Composed while Vierne was titular organist at Notre-Dame de Paris this symphony was notably praised by Claude Debussy. 

The Cantabile serves as a lyrical, deeply introspective oasis before the stormy Final. Central to the movement's design is Vierne's sophisticated use of cyclic form, which directly reshapes the primary thematic materials introduced in the opening Allegro. Here, the first movement's aggressive, rhythmic motto is smoothed into a fluid, vocal melody, while its initial hymn-like secondary theme returns steeped in intense, late-Romantic chromaticism. True to its title, the movement demands a seamless, breathless legato that mimics human singing. Intimate solo lines gradually swell into waves of passionate, chromatic yearning before quietly subsiding into a peaceful, reflective close.

The registration scheme with which Vierne presents us looks simple on paper but is difficult to achieve in that the balance between the required Clarinette and the accompaniment (which requires an open flute) can be tricky. On Caen it is just about possible and I could not cope with the rather coarse alternative of the Positif Chromorne - ironically this was all that Vierne was left with at Notre Dame after his long awaited rebuild in 1904 (by Mutin ) when the Recit Clarinette was removed.

The first movement, Allegro Risoluto can be found here (with the same performer and instrument):
https://www.contrebombarde.com/concerthall/music/63880

The second, Choral, here: https://www.contrebombarde.com/concerthall/music/64144

The third, Scherzo, here: https://www.contrebombarde.com/concerthall/music/64440