Duration: 38 minutes

Description: French organist and composer Louis Vierne (1870–1937) studied with César Franck and Charles-Marie Widor and served as organist of Notre-Dame de Paris from 1900 until his death, famously collapsing at the organ during a recital in 1937. Nearly blind from birth, Vierne nevertheless became one of the great organ virtuosos of his generation and composed six organ symphonies that helped bring the French Romantic organ tradition to its height. His Symphony No. 1 in D minor, Op. 14, composed between 1895 and 1898, was dedicated to the distinguished organist Alexandre Guilmant. The six movements-Prélude, Fugue, Pastorale, Allegro vivace, Andante, and Final-explore the organ’s expressive possibilities, moving from the solemn opening through lyrical and animated contrasts to the brilliant D-major conclusion. Of its six movements, the exuberant “Final” has become particularly famous and is frequently performed independently. Today, the Symphony No. 1 remains an important work of the French Romantic organ repertoire and an early landmark in Vierne’s development as one of the foremost composers for the instrument. Reprint edition.

• M236691 / 36-M236691 SYMPHONY NO. 1 OP.14 SOLO $12.95Buy Now