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The art of the organist in nineteenth-century France and Belgium is a rags-to-riches story full of extraordinary problems and changes. Devastated by the French Revolution, the organ profession rose from desperate circumstances to a period of remarkable brilliance. By the end of the nineteenth century, organ playing was enthusiastically applauded and had been thoroughly integrated in the musical life of Paris. This account is not just a record of stellar events and famous names: it includes failures, all-but-forgotten musicians, and unexpected encounters. In a carefully documented study that is both scholarly and engaging. Orpha Ochse traces three major aspects of the organist's art: the development of the secular recital, the organist as church musician, and the education of organists. In addition to presenting a comprehensive view of the organ profession in France and Belgium throughout the period, she offers a new perspective on nineteenth-century music in general.
List of contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
I. Prelude: Music for a Revolution
Part One: Performers and Programs
II. In the Wake of the Storm: 1800-1809
III. Years of Rebuilding: 1810-29
IV. The Romantic Dawn: The 1830s
V. Contrasts, Conflicts, and Conquests: The 1840s
VI. Mid-Century Masters and Their Programs
VII. New Horizons: The 1860s
VIII. Tragedy to Triumph: The 1870s
IX. Renaissance Achieved: The 1880s
X. Years of Fulfillment: The 1890s
Part Two: The Organist as Church Muscian
XI. Historical Background
XII. Organ and Liturgy
XIII. Notes on the Repertoire
Part Three: Great Schools and Famous Teachers
XIV. The Paris Conservatory Organ Class: Sejan to Franck
XV. The Brussels Conservatory Organ Class: Fetis to Mailly
XVI. Lemmens, a Closer Look
XVII. Widor as Teacher
XVIII.Guilmant as Teacher
XIX. The Niedermeyer School
XX. Organ Study at the Niedermeyer and Gigout Schools
XXI. The Schola Cantorum
XXII. Postlude
Appendix A. Organ Performers by Cesar Franck
Appendix B. Students in Franck's Organ Class
Appendix C. Oragan Performers by Camille Saint-Saens
Bibliography
Notes
Index
About the author
ORPHA OCHSE, Professor Emerita of Music at Whittier College, is author of The History of the Organ in the United States (another Indiana University Press paperback). She is well known as a teacher, church musician, recitalist, and lecturer.
Summary
Traces the organ profession's rebirth through the careers of Saint-Saens, Franck, Gigout, Guilmant, and Widor and other influential figures and composers. The author explores the development of the secular recital, the organist as church musician, and the education of organists in a documented study.
