A Centenary Tribute

It was a meticulous craftsmanship and a perfectionist’s attitude that limited his lifetime compositional output to a mere dozen scores. On our next Pipedreams, we’ll show that while they are few in number, the compositions of Maurice Duruflé are like so many perfectly-polished jewels, core items in the organ repertoire. Along with his own works are interpretations of Bach, Handel, and Schumann in performances recorded at Soissons Cathedral, the National Shrine in Washington, DC, and Saint Thomas Church, New York, NY.

Inspired by an abiding faith, a reference for Gregorian chant, and a love for the organ, he created a handful of masterpieces beloved equally by singers, players and listeners. Explore the exquisite art of Frenchman Maurice Duruflé, in A Centenary Tribute, this week on Pipedreams.

Audio Listen to the program

Program Broadcast dates:

January 7, 2002

Music played in the program

MAURICE DURUFLÉ: Scherzo, Opus 2 –Todd Wilson (1978 Schudi/St. Thomas Aquinas RCC, Dallas, TX) Delos DE 3047

MAURICE DURUFLÉ: Prelude in e-flat, Opus 5 –Maurice Duruflé (1956 Gonzales/Cathédrale Saint-Gervais-et-Saint-Protais de Soissons, France) MHS LP-999

MAURICE DURUFLÉ: Variations on Veni Creator, Opus 4 –Marie-Madeleine Duruflé-Chevalier (1965 Aeolian-Skinner/Cathedral of Christ the King, Saint Louis, MO) Aeolian-Skinner AS-322

J.S. BACH: Prelude in a, S. 543; Fugue in A, S. 536 –Maurice Duruflé (1956 Gonzales/Cathédrale Saint-Gervais-et-Saint-Protais de Soissons, France) EMI Classics CDC 89173

G.F. HANDEL: Concerto in A, Opus 7, number 2, 1st movement, with interpolated cadenza –Maurice Duruflé (1956 Aeolian-Skinner/St. Thomas Episcopal, New York, NY) API CD-9003

CHARLES TOURNEMIRE (transcribed by Maurice Duruflé): Petite Rhapsodie –Maurice Duruflé (1965 Aeolian-Skinner/Cathedral of Christ the King, Saint Louis, MO) Aeolian-Skinner AS-322

MAURICE DURUFLÉ: Kyrie & Gloria, from Messe Cum Jubilo, Opus 11 –Los Angeles Master Chorale, Paul Salamunovich, conductor; Frederick Swann (1932 Skinner; 1969 Schlicker/First Congregational, Los Angeles, CA) RCM12002

MAURICE DURUFLÉ: Hommage a Jean Gallon –Pierre Pincemaille (1981 Oberlinger/St. Joseph Church, Bonn-Beuel, Germany) Motette CD MOT 12541

MAURICE DURUFLÉ: Prelude and Fugue on the Name ALAIN, Opus 7 –Marie-Madeleine Duruflé-Chevalier (1989 van den Heuvel/Église Saint-Eustache, Paris, France) Festivo 6941 772

Filler –MAURICE DURUFLÉ: Toccata, from Suite, Opus 5 –Todd Wilson (see above)

[Comments by Maurice Duruflé were taken from an interview which appears on a reissued CD, Titanic CD-200, of the first integral recording of his organ works. Comments by Madame Marie-Madeleine Duruflé and translations by Dennis Keene were recorded in New York City in 1989.]