Thursday, January 01, 2015

Gregorian Chant and L’Orgue Mystique of Charles Tournemire

On 3 January at St John Cantius, Chicago, there will be a Traditional Latin High Mass with Gregorian Chant and corresponding movements from Charles Tournemire's L'Orgue Mystique. Tournemire (1870-1939) was organist at the Basilica of Sainte-Clotilde, Paris, succeeding César Franck and preceding Jean Langlais. His L'Orgue Mystique is a large cycle of works based on the Gregorian Chants of the Liturgical Year. Many organists feel that Tournemire's contribution to the Music of the Church has never had the widespread recognition which it deserves, and it is wonderful that St John Cantius is promoting this rich deposit of Catholic organ music. This will be a superb opportunity to hear some of the movements in their proper context. The organ will be played by Richard Spotts and there will be further events during the day as detailed below, and further information and tickets are available here.

12:00 pm Traditional Latin High Mass, 1962 Missale Romanum (church) with Gregorian Chant & Tournemire’s stunning musical meditations based upon those sublime chants.
1:15 pm Lunch in Café San Giovanni (lower level)
2:00 pm Talk on L’Orgue Mystique (church)
2:30 pm Organ Recital (church)

The photos below were taken recently at Sainte-Clotilde in Paris, and the YouTube clip below features Richard Spotts playing Triptyque from L'Orgue Mystique, performed at Westminster Choir College. The CMAA's Jennifer Donelson and Stephen Schloesser edited a wonderful book entitled Mystic Modern: The Music, Thought, and Legacy of Charles Tournemire which is available here.


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