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Marie-Madeleine and Maurice Duruflé
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, D.C., 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.
DURUFLÉ: Scherzo, Op. 2 –Todd Wilson (1978 Schudi/Church of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Dallas, TX) Delos CD-3047 (www.delosmus.com)
DURUFLÉ: Prelude in e-flat, Op. 5 –Maurice Duruflé (1956 Gonzales/Soissons Cathedral, France) Musical Heritage Society LP-999 (out-of-print)
DURUFLÉ: Variations on Veni Creator, Op. 4 –Marie-Madeleine Duruflé-Chevalier (1965 Aeolian-Skinner/Cathedral of Christ the King, Saint Louis, MO) Aeolian-Skinner AS-322 (out-of-print)
BACH: Prelude in a, S. 543; Fugue in A, S. 536 –Maurice Duruflé (Soissons Cathedral) EMI Classics 5CD-89173 (out-of-print?)
HANDEL: Concerto in A, Op. 7, no. 2 (1st movement, with interpolated cadenza) –Maurice Duruflé (1956 Aeolian-Skinner+/Saint Thomas Church, New York, NY) API CD-9003
TOURNEMIRE (trans. Duruflé): Petite Rhapsodie –Maurice Duruflé (Christ Church Cathedral, Saint Louis) (see above)
DURUFLÉ: Kyrie & Gloria, fr Messe "Cum Jubilo", Op. 11 –Los Angeles Master Chorale/Paul Salamunovich, conductor; Frederick Swann (Schlicker organ; 1st Congregational Church, Los Angeles, CA) RCM CD-12002 (www.rcmusa.com)
DURUFLÉ: Hommage a Jean Gallon (@1960?) –Pierre Pincemaille (1981 Oberlinger/Saint Joseph's Church, Bonn-Beuel, Germany) Motette CD-12541 (www.ohscatalog.org)
DURUFLÉ: Prelude and Fugue on the Name ALAIN, Op. 7 –Marie-Madeleine Duruflé- Chevalier (1989 van den Heuvel/Church of Saint Eustache, Paris) Festivo CD-6941772
Filler–DURUFLÉ: Toccata, fr Suite, Op. 5 –Todd Wilson (see above)
[Comments by Maurice Duruflé were taken from an interview which appears on a CD reissue (Titanic CD-200) of the first integral recording of his organ works (www.titanicrecords.com). Comments by Madame Duruflé (and translations by Dennis Keene) were recorded in New York City in 1989. ]