Sur le nom d’Alain: Organ music by Jehan Alain and Maurice Duruflé
For his debut recording with Ad Fontes, Matthew Martin has brought together a recital showcasing two of the greatest organist-composers of twentieth century France. Duruflé, a notorious perfectionist, looked to his profound faith and the great lineage of French composers–Debussy, Dukas, Fauré and Ravel–for inspiration. Alain, an ardent voice in the avant-garde, developed his own distinctive language before his tragic death in 1940, aged just 29. This prompted Duruflé to compose a prelude and fugue, a la mémoire de Jehan Alain, mort pour la France, in tribute to his friend. Having spent much of his own life immersed in Gregorian chant–also a palpable influence on the music of this commemorative pairing–Matthew Martin was himself a pupil of the late Marie-Claire Alain in Paris, which provided rare insights into her brother’s music. The lively voicing and colour of the Ruffatti organ of Buckfast Abbey provides the ideal vehicle for this programme, expertly captured in a building which lives and breathes the music.
★★★★★ (Performance) ★★★★★ (Recording) “Taking its title from Duruflé’s Prélude et Fugue sur le nom d’Alain, this album brilliantly juxtaposes two Parisian composers best known to organists but deserving wider appreciation… Matthew Martin plays both composers with equal command on the Ruffatti organ of Buckfast Abbey, an instrument whose ‘symphonic’ sound is well suited to this music.” (BBC Music Magazine)
“This is an outstanding disc in every way. The music is marvellous – and discerningly chosen – and the performances are superb. Several of the pieces call for overt virtuosity and in all these instances Matthew Martin delivers in spades… The engineering is an unqualified success… I’ve been deeply impressed by this album of French organ music from Devon. Encore, s’il vous plaît!” (MusicWeb International)
Track List
Maurice Duruflé
Suite (Op. 5)
22:58
1
Prélude
8:08
£0.99
2
Sicilienne
6:41
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3
Toccata
8:09
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4
Jehan Alain
Intermezzo (JA 66)
5:19
£0.99
5
Jehan Alain
Variations sur Lucis Creator (JA 27)
4:34
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Jehan Alain
Suite (JA 82)
17:15
6
Introduction et variations
7:45
£0.99
7
Scherzo
4:58
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8
Choral
4:32
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9
Jehan Alain
Aria (JA 138)
6:25
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10
Maurice Duruflé
Chant donné ‘Hommage à Jean Gallon’
1:42
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Maurice Duruflé
Prélude et fugue sur le nom d'Alain (Op. 7)
12:13
11
Prélude
6:48
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12
Fugue
5:25
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13
Jehan Alain
Litanies (JA 119)
4:47
£0.99