The Stations of the Cross #8214
…a dramatic cycle of meditations for Passiontide.
MARCEL DUPRÉ: "Le Chemin de la Croix" Barry Busse, narrator; Dr. Douglas L. Butler, organist (1961 Holtkamp/St. John Abbey, Collegeville, Minnesota)
This remarkable organ score originated as a series of improvisations created at a concert at the Brussels Conservatory in 1931 as musical commentary upon a cycle of like-titled poems by Paul Claudel. As was the case with several other Dupre projects, these improvised pieces were later set down, “composed” if you will, and exist as one of this composer's profound and moving works.
Our performing appeared as part of the very first Pipedreams offering in the spring of 1982, and was rebroadcast in 1986. Dr. Butler, for whom the stations held a special interest, died this past July at age forty-six, and our broadcast is a tribute to his persuasive interpretive gifts.
This program was originally issued as #82-14 on April 4, 1982 and reissued as #84-26 on March 26, 1984, #8612 on March 24, 1986, and #9111 on March 18, 1991.