Jeanne Demessieux – The Decca Legacy (8CD)

From her legendary debut through the succeeding years, Jeanne Demessieux brought virtuosity allied to intellect and sensitivity, and went on to become the glory of the French organ school. This 8-CD celebration of one of the instrument’s most spoken-of, yet enigmatic figures, brings together for the first time her complete Decca recordings and a previously unpublished BBC Radio broadcast, and is released to mark the centenary of her birth.

MORE INFORMATION

It includes Demessieux’s legendary Franck recordings; her recordings from St. Mark’s, North Audley Street, London, many released for the first time since the original 78s; little-known recordings of sacred songs with Demessieux accompanying the Belgian soprano, Suzanne Danco; and an improvisation on a submitted theme from the only extant BBC radio broadcast with Demessieux, which also includes Bach, Buxtehude, Widor and Messiaen.

All recordings have been carefully remastered by Mark Obert-Thorn and Chris Bernauer.
The accompanying booklet includes details of Demessieux’s unpublished recordings, rare photos and facsimiles of some of her programs, extensive notes, including details of some of the recording sessions; and notes on the instruments and full specifications for each of the five organs.

REVIEWS
“This young French player has an amazing technique and uses a considerable variety of touch” Gramophone, October 1947 (Bach, BWV 565 – 1947 recording)

“This really is that very rare thing, organ playing with imagination … Without pretending to authority, I feel that I had stepped into Westminster Abbey in Purcell’s time I might have heard organ playing which sounded like this” Gramophone, September 1948 (Clarke, attr. Purcell)

“… a deep dream of peace to soothe a tortured world … Miss Demessieux gives a most restrained and finely-phrased performance” Gramophone, August 1950 (Franck: Cantabile – 1949 recording)

“a wonderful piece of engineering, as faithful a reproduction of organ sound as I have ever heard” Gramophone, June 1954 (Bach: LW 5095)

TRACK LIST

CD 1
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1685–1750)
Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 (Rec. 1947)

FELIX MENDELSSOHN (1587–1654)
Sonata in A major, Op. 65 No. 3 – Maestoso

JEREMIAH CLARKE (1674–1707)
Trumpet Tune (formally attrib. Henry Purcell / Trans. Marcel Dupré)

CHARLES-MARIE WIDOR (1844–1937)
Toccata (Symphonie V, Op. 42 No. 1)

CÉSAR FRANCK (1822–1890)
Cantabile (Trois Pièces)
Pastorale (Six Pièces)
Fantaisie (Trois Pièces)

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1685–1750)
Prelude and Fugue in D major, BWV 532
Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 (Rec. 1951)

Jeanne Demessieux at the organ of St. Mark’s, North Audley Street, London

CD 2
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1685–1750)
Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C major, BWV 564
Prelude and Fugue in A minor, BWV 543
Chorale Prelude: Wenn wir in höchsten Nöten sein, BWV 641 (from Orgelbüchlein)
Chorale Prelude: Nun komm’ der Heiden Heiland, BWV 659 (from 18 Chorale Preludes)
Chorale Prelude: Jesus Christus, unser Heiland, BWV 688 (from Clavierübung III)
Fugue in G major (à la gigue), BWV 577
Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565
Fantasia and Fugue in G minor, BWV 542
Concerto in A minor, BWV 593 (Based on Vivaldi's Concerto in A minor, Op. 3 No. 8, RV 522)

Jeanne Demessieux at the organ of Victoria Hall, Geneva

CD 3
CÉSAR FRANCK (1822–1890)
Trois Chorals

FRANZ LISZT (1811–1886)
Fantasia and Fugue on ‘Ad nos, as salutarem undam’

CHARLES-MARIE WIDOR (1844–1937)
Variations (Symphonie gothique, Op. 70)

Jeanne Demessieux at the organ of Victoria Hall, Geneva

CD 4
GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL (1685–1759)
Organ Concerto in G minor, Op. 4 No. 1, HWV 289
Organ Concerto in B flat major, Op. 4 No. 2, HWV 290

Jeanne Demessieux at the organ of Victoria Hall, Geneva
L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
Ernest Ansermet

HEINRICH SCHÜTZ (1585–1672)
Eile mich, Gott, zu erretten, SWV 282

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1685–1750)
Bist du bei mir, BWV 508
Komm, süßer Tod, komm, selge Ruh’, BWV 478
Warum betrübst du dich, BWV 516

Suzanne Danco, soprano
Jeanne Demessieux at the organ of Victoria Hall, Geneva

FRANZ LISZT (1811–1886)
Prelude and Fugue on B.A.C.H

CHARLES-MARIE WIDOR (1844–1937)
Allegro (Symphony No. 6, Op. 42 No. 2)

ÉDOUARD MIGNAN (1884–1969)
Toccata médiévale

JEAN BERVEILLER (1904–1976)
Mouvement

JEANNE DEMESSIEUX (1921–1968)
Te Deum, Op. 11

Jeanne Demessieux at the organ of La Madeleine, Paris

CD 5
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1685–1750)
Choral Prelude: O Mensch, bewein’ dein’ Sünde groß, BWV 622 (from Orgelbüchlein)
Chorale Prelude: Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam, BWV 684 (from Clavierübung III)
Fantasia in G major, BWV 572
Sinfonia from Cantata No. 29, BWV 29 (Trans: Marcel Dupré)
Chorale-Prelude: Erbarm’ dich mein, o Herre Gott, BWV 721
Toccata and Fugue in F major, BWV 540

WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART (1756–1791)
Adagio and Fugue in C minor, KV 546 / 426 (Adagio: transc. Demessieux; Fugue: transc. Dupré)
Fantasia in F minor, KV 608

Jeanne Demessieux at the organ of La Madeleine, Paris

CD 6
CÉSAR FRANCK (1822–1890)
Six Pièces

Jeanne Demessieux at the organ of La Madeleine, Paris

CD 7
CÉSAR FRANCK (1822–1890)
Trois Pièces
Trois Chorals

Jeanne Demessieux at the organ of La Madeleine, Paris

CD 8
OLIVIER MESSIAEN (1908–1992)
Transports de joie d’une âme devant la gloire du Christ qui est la sienne (L’Ascension)

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1685–1750)
Choral Prelude: Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier, BWV 731

JEAN BERVEILLER (1904–1976)
Mouvement

CHARLES-MARIE WIDOR (1844–1937)
Toccata (Symphonie V, Op. 42 No. 1)

Jeanne Demessieux at the organ of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral

Live Recording from the BBC – Previously Unpublished
DIETERICH BUXTEHUDE (1637–1707)
Fugue in C major, BuxWV 174

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1685–1750)
Choral Prelude: Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier, BWV 731

CHARLES-MARIE WIDOR (1844–1937)
Allegro vivace (Symphonie V, Op. 42 No. 1)

JEANNE DEMESSIEUX (1921–1968)
Improvisation on a theme submitted by Adrian Beaumont

Jeanne Demessieux at the organ of Colston Hall, Bristol

Please note: CD 8 is released in physical format only and is not available on digital services