Alain On Alain (Part 2) #2632
. . . the famous French recitalist, recording artist and teacher Marie-Claire Alain talks about the uniquely powerful music of her older brother and first teacher, Jehan Alain (1911-1940).
Hour 1
JEHAN ALAIN: Litanies (1937) –Marie-Claire Alain (Callinet-Schwenkedel/Basilica of St. Christopher, Belfort) Erato 88194
ALAIN: Suite (1935): Introduction et Variations (i.) --Thomas Trotter (1983 van den Heuvel/Nieuwe Kerk, Katwijk aan Zee, Netherlands) Argo 430 833; Scherzo (ii.) –Kevin Bowyer (1995 Marcussen/Tonbridge School, Kent, England) Nimbus 5551/2; Choral (iii.) –Eric Lebrun (1894 Cavaille-Coll/Saint-Antoine des Quinze-Vingts, Paris, France) Naxos 8.553632/3
ALAIN: Premiere Fantasie (1933) –Wolfgang Rübsam (1970 Rieger/Marienstatt Abbey, Germany) Bayer 100198/9
ALAIN: Deuxiemme Fantasie (1936) –Christophe Mantoux (1890 Cavaillé-Coll/St. Ouen Abbey, Rouen) Raven 163
ALAIN: Aria (1938) –James Higdon (1988 Jaeckel/Pilgrim Congregational Church, Duluth, MN) RBW CD-005
Filler – ALAIN: Choral Dorian –Marie-Claire Alain (St. Christophe, Belfort) Erato 45508
Hour 2
ALAIN: Petit piece —Marie-Claire Alain (1899 Ghys/Basilica of St. Perjeux, Besancon, France) Erato 80214
ALAIN: Variations on a Theme of Clement Jannequin –Guy Bovet (Alain house organ/Alain Center, Romainmotier, Switzerland) Gallo 851
ALAIN: Ave Maria (Dorian Vocalise). ALAIN: Tantum ergo – Camerata St. Louis; Delphine Collot, soprano; Georges Guillard, organ. Arion 68148
ALAIN: Un cercle d’argent –Desire N’kaoua, piano. FY/Solstice 027
ALAIN: Three Minutes (Un circle d’argent-Romance-Grave) –Marie-Claire Alain (1899 Ghys/Basilica of St. Ferjeux, Besancon, France) Erato 80214
ALAIN: Trois Danses (1937-39): Joies/Joys (i.) –Guy Bovet (Alain Family organ/Romainmotier Organ Institute, Switzerland) Gallo 851; Deuils/Mourning – Funeral Dance to Honor an Heroic Memory (ii.) –Marie-Claire Alain (Callinet-Schwenkedel/Basilica of St. Christopher, Belfort) Erato 8194; Luttes/Struggle (iii.) –Marie-Claire Alain (1993 Haerpfer/Valloires Abbey) Erato 85773
Filler – Litanies –Marie-Claire Alain (Basilica St. Ferjeux, Besancon) Erato CD-80214
Madame Alain completed a small book devoted to her brother and his music: Critical Notes on the Organ Works of Jehan Alain, published by Alphonse Leduc, Paris, in an English translation by Norma Stevlingson. More recently, a new book, Jehan Alain: Biography, Correspondence, Drawings and Manuascripts, has been compiled by Marie-Claire Alain’s daughter, Aurelie Decourt-Alain, available in an English translation by Lynne Davis Firmin-Didot, and published by the Leupold Foundation.
PIPEDREAMS is supported in loving memory of Lucinda and Wesley Dudley by their family, with additional support from Walter McCarthy, Clara Ueland, and the Greystone Foundation, from Ed and Wanda Eichler, and from Peterson Electro-Musical Products of Alsip, IL and Quimby Pipe Organs, Inc. of Warrensburg, Missouri, members of APOBA, the Associated Pipe Organ Builders of America, a collaborative of designers, creators, and maintainers of pipe organs found in religious and educational institutions, concert halls, and residences throughout the United States and beyond. An APOBA resource guide and member prospectus is available at APOBA.COM.
