[Marie-Claire Alain]
Marie-Claire Alain

Alain on Alain (Part 2)

…the remarkable Marie-Claire Alain talks about the unique power of the compositions by her older brother and first teacher, Jehan Alain (1911-1940).

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Program Broadcast dates:

Week of July 16, 2007

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Printable program listings

Listen to audio excerpts of an interview Michael conducted with Marie-Claire

Music played in the program

JEHAN ALAIN: Litanies (1937) –Marie-Claire Alain (1848 Callinet; 1971 Schwenkedel/Basilica of Saint Christopher, Belfort, France) Erato ECD-88194 (out-of-print)

JEHAN ALAIN: Suite (1935):
1st movement (Introduction et Variations) –Thomas Trotter (1983 van den Heuvel/Nieuwe Kerk, Ketwijk aan Zee, Netherlands) Argo CD 430 833;
2nd movement (Scherzo) –Kevin Bowyer (1995 Marcussen/Saint Augustine’s Chapel, Tonbridge School, Kent, England, UK) Nimbus CD-5551/2;
3rd movement (Choral) –Eric Lebrun (1894 Cavaillé-Coll/Saint-Antoine des Quinze-Vingts, Paris, France) Naxos CD-8.553632/3

JEHAN ALAIN: Premiere Fantasie (1933) –Wolfgang Rubsam (1970 Rieger/Marienstatt Abbey, Germany) Bayer CD-100198/9

JEHAN ALAIN: Deuxiemme Fantasie (1936) –Christophe Mantoux (1890 Cavaillé-Coll/Church of Saint Ouen, Rouen, France) Studio SM CD-1221.61

JEHAN ALAIN: Aria (1938) –James Higdon (1992 Jaeckel/Pilgrim Congregational Church, Duluth, MN) RBW CD-005

JEHAN ALAIN: Un cercle d’argent, from Trois Minutes –Marie-Claire Alain (1899 Ghys/Saint Ferjeux Basilica, Besançon, France) Erato CD-80214

JEHAN ALAIN: Trois Danses (1937-39):
1st movement (Joies/Joys) –Guy Bovet (Alain Family organ/Romainmotier Organ Institute, Switzerland) Gallo CD-851;
2nd movement (Deuils/Mourning - Funeral Dance to Honor an Heroic Memory) –Marie-Claire Alain (1848 Callinet; 1971 Schwenkedel/Basilica of Saint Christopher, Belfort, France) Erato ECD-88194;
3rd movement (Luttes/Struggle) –Marie-Claire Alain (1993 Haerpfer/Valloires Abbey, France) Erato CD-85773

Filler–Litanies (see above)

Madame Alain has compiled a small book devoted to her brother and his music: Critical Notes on the Organ Works of Jehan Alain, published by Alphonse Leduc, Paris, France (English translation by Norma Stevlingson).

This program was originally issued as #0209 in February 2002.