1741 Moucherel organ at the Cintegabelle Monastery, France

Mass Appeal

The pipe organ’s participation in religious worship has been an important facet of its tradition. This week, we’ll explore one of those traditions, the organ’s role in the sacred liturgy of the French Mass. From the colorful registrations used by Nicolas DeGrigny in his 17th century versets to the provocative images of Olivier Messiaen, the voice of the pipe organ adds immeasurably to the enhancement and the elevation of spiritual consciousness.

Listen to the program

Program Broadcast dates:

• November 24, 2003

Featured Organs:

• 1868 Cavaillé-Coll at Notre-Dame Cathedral, Paris, France
• 1980 Klais at Altenburg Cathedral, Germany
• 1775 Isnard at Saint Maximin-en-Provence, France
• 1741 Moucherel organ at the Cintegabelle Monastery, France
• 1929-1993 Frobenius organ at Århus Domkirke [Århus Cathedral], Denmark
• 1859 Cavaillé-Coll organ at the Basilique Sainte Clotilde, Paris, France

Links and Resources

• Poitiers Cathedral Interior
• Poitiers Cathedral Exterior

Music played in the program

LOUIS VIERNE: Kyrie, from Messe solennelle in c#, Op. 16 –Notre Dame Cathedral Choirs, Jehan Revert, conductor; Pierre Cochereau (1868 Cavaillé-Coll/Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, France) Solstice CD-914

GABRIEL FAURÉ: Kyrie, from Messe Basse –Andrew Brunt, treble; Choir of Saint John’s College, Cambridge, George Guest; Stephen Cleobury (1994 Mander/Saint John’s College Chapel, Cambridge, England, UK) London CD 430 360

CHARLES-MARIE WIDOR: Sanctus/Benedictus, from Mass in f#, Op. 36 –Altenberg Cathedral; Kantorei, Gürzenich Choir, Cologne; German-French Choir of Cologne; Total Vokal, Dortmund Volker Hempfling, conductor; Andreas Meisner, Paul Wisskirchen (1980 Klais/Altenberg Cathedral, Germany) Motette CD-40181

NICOLAS de GRIGNY: Kyrie (5 verses), from La Messe -(#1, Premiere Kyrie en taille a 5; #5, Dialogue sur les Grands Jeux) André Isoir (1790 Clicquot/Cathedral of Saint Peter, Poitiers, France) Calliope CD-9911; (#2, Fugue a 5) Michel Chapuis (1971 Schwenkedel/Basilique Saint-Christophe de Belfort) Astrée 2CD-7725; (#3, Cromorne en taille) Pierre Bardon (1775 Isnard/Basilique Sainte-Marie-Madeleine, St. Maximin la Sainte-Baume, France) Pierre Verany CD-790031; (#4, Trio en dialogue) Sylvain Ciaravolo (1983 Grenzing/Saint Pierre des Chartreux, France) ADDA CD-581251-2

ERIK SATIE: Kyrie, from Messe des Pauvres –Munich Madrigal Choir; Elisabeth Sperer, Winfried Englhardt (1952 Steinmeyer, 1984 Albiez/Saint Ursula Church, Munich-Schwabing, Germany) FSM CD-97735

DeGRIGNY: Suite in F, from La Messe (1st Sanctus en Taille; Fugue, Communion-Dialogue; Dialogue a 2 tailles, Agnus-Dialogue) –Ensemble Alternatim (chant); Bernard Coudurier (1741 Moucherel organ/Eglise de la Nativitee de la Sainte Vierge, Cintegabelle, France) BNL CD-112812

DANIEL-LESUR: Kyrie, from Messe du Jubilé –BBC Symphony Chorus/Stephen Jackson; Jeremy Filsell (1991 Mander/Saint Giles Church, Cripplegate, England, London, UK) ASV CD-900

AYMÉ KUNC: Kyrie, from Messe de Sainte-Cécile –Midi-Pyrénées Regional Choir, Alix Bourbon; Yasuko Uyama-Bouvard (1864 Cavaillé-Coll/Jesu Church, Toulouse, France) Solstice CD-164

OLIVIER MESSIAEN: Communion (Les Oiseaux et les Sources), from Messe de la Pentecote –Dame Gillian Weir (1929-1993 Frobenius/Århus Domkirke [Århus Cathedral], Denmark) Priory CD-923

JEAN LANGLAIS: Kyrie ‘Orbis Factor’, from Livre Oecuménique –Jean Langlais (1859 Cavaillé-Coll/Basilique Sainte Clotilde, Paris, France) Solstice CD-01

Filler–VIERNE: Kyrie (see above)