How to Play Jean Langlais' Suite Medievale on the Organ
Jean Langlais (1907-1991) was a French organist and composer who wrote many works for the instrument, including his famous Suite Medievale. This suite, composed in 1947, consists of five movements that are based on Gregorian chants and medieval modes. It is a beautiful and challenging piece that requires skill, expression and creativity from the organist.
How to Play Jean Langlais' Suite Medievale on the Organ
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In this article, we will give you some tips on how to play Jean Langlais' Suite Medievale on the organ, as well as some background information on the composer and the work. We will also provide you with a link to download the sheet music for free in PDF format.
Who was Jean Langlais?
Jean Langlais was born in La Fontenelle, Brittany, in 1907. He became blind at the age of two due to glaucoma. He studied at the National Institute for the Young Blind in Paris, where he learned piano, violin, harmony and organ. He later studied at the Paris Conservatoire with Marcel DuprÃ, Charles Tournemire and Paul Dukas. He won several prizes and awards for his compositions and performances.
Langlais was a prolific composer who wrote more than 250 works for organ, as well as chamber music, orchestral music, vocal music and sacred music. He was also a renowned organist who played in many countries and recorded extensively. He was the organist of the Basilica of Sainte-Clotilde in Paris from 1945 to 1987, succeeding his teacher Tournemire. He also taught at the Schola Cantorum de Paris and the National Institute for the Young Blind.
Langlais died in Paris in 1991. He is buried at La Fontenelle, where his childhood home has been turned into a museum.
What is Suite Medievale?
Suite Medievale is one of Langlais' most popular works for organ. It was composed in 1947 and published in 1950 by Editions Combre. It is dedicated to his friend Gaston Litaize, another blind organist and composer.
The suite consists of five movements that are inspired by Gregorian chants and medieval modes. The movements are:
Prelude: A lively and rhythmic introduction that uses the Mixolydian mode and a theme derived from the Easter sequence Victimae paschali laudes.
Tiento: A slow and expressive movement that uses the Phrygian mode and a theme derived from the hymn Veni Creator Spiritus.
Improvisation: A free and playful movement that uses the Lydian mode and a theme derived from the antiphon Salve Regina.
Meditation: A calm and serene movement that uses the Aeolian mode and a theme derived from the responsory Libera me.
Acclamations carolingiennes: A festive and triumphant finale that uses the Ionian mode and a theme derived from the hymn Te Deum.
The suite is written in a neo-classical style that combines elements of baroque, romantic and modern music. It showcases Langlais' mastery of harmony, counterpoint, melody and form. It also reflects his deep knowledge of liturgical music and his personal faith.
How to Play Suite Medievale on the Organ?
Suite Medievale is a challenging but rewarding piece to play on the organ. It requires good technique, musicality and imagination from the organist. Here are some tips on how to play each movement:
Prelude: Use a bright registration with mixtures and reeds on both manuals. Play with clarity, energy and precision. Articulate well the theme and its variations. Follow the dynamic markings carefully.
Tiento: Use a soft registration with flutes and strings on both manuals. Play with expression, sensitivity and rubato. Shape well the long phrases and use subtle changes of tone 04f6b60f66